PA 6638 



1835 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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SELECT LETTERS 



PLINY THE YOUNGER. 



fW SELECT LETTERS 

PLINY THE YOUNGER, 



WITH NOTES 



ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE MANNERS, CUSTOMS, AND 
LAWS OF THE ANCIENT ROMANS, 



Ifor tfje use of Schools* 



BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED BY PERKINS, MARVIN, & CO. 

PHILADELPHIA: HENRY PERKINS. 

1835. 









.<*> 



Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1S35, 

By Perkins, Marvin, & Co. 
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. 



PREFACE. 



The want of a convenient edition of the 
works of the younger Pliny for the use of 
schools, is a fact familiar to teachers, and 
which, by many, it is believed has been re- 
garded with surprise and regret. The popu- 
larity of this author is sufficiently evinced by 
the number of editions which the translation 
has passed through, both in England and this 
country ; while the high moral tone of his 
writings, the beauty of his style, and the in- 
formation which can be derived from him 
respecting the domestic manners of the an- 
cient Romans, fit him, in a peculiar manner, 
for the perusal of youth. The object aimed 
at in the present selection, has been to ex- 
hibit the author's powers on a variety of 
subjects, and thus to render the work as 



interesting as possible to the student, to 
whom the reading of the whole would prove 
a tedious task. The notes are intended 
solely for the explanation of the texts. Ver- 
bal criticism has been dispensed with, and is, 
in fact, rendered unnecessary by the omission 
of the few passages, which are of suspicious 
integrity, or the explanation of which would 
be attended with any difficulty. It is hoped 
that in its present form, the work may prove 
acceptable both to instructors and their 
pupils. 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 
Dedication, 9 

Comparison of Town and Country Life, 9 

A Roman Dinner, 11 

Another Dinner, 12 

Pleasures of the Country, . 13 

Anecdotes of Marcus Regulus, . . . * 14 

A Philosopher's Mode of Life, 16 

Anecdotes of Arria, 20 

Character of the Poet Martial, 23 

A Schpol at Corno 25 

Reasons for Undertaking the Course of Corellia, 27 

Suppression of Public Games at Vienna, 29 

Singular Fountain, 31 

An Unexpected Legacy, 33 

A Roman Villa, 35 

Duties of an Historian, 38 

Death of a Friend's Daughter, 41 

An Eruption of Vesuvius, 43 

The same continued, 47 

Self-Denial in Sickness, 51 

A Plan of Study, 53 

Pleasures of Friendship, 56 • 

Advantages of Sickness, .57 

Fidelity Rewarded with Honor, 58 

Fountain and River Clitumnus, 60 

An Inundation of the Tiber, 62 



nn CONTENTS. 

A Wonderful Lake, 63 

A Character, 65 

Ancient Glories of Greece, 66 

Two Ways to be Happy, 69 

A Lesson to Parents, 69 

In Behalf of a Servant, 70 

On the same subject, 71 

True and False Generosity, 71 

Story of a Dolphin, 72 

Philosophic Retirement, .75 

The same in Winter, 77 

An Engineer Wanted in Bithynia, 77 

The Emperor's Answer, 78 

A Fire Company Wanted at Nicomedia, 79 

The Emperor's Answer, 80 

An Aqueduct at. Nicomedia, 80 

The Emperor's Answer, 81 

A Canal at Nicomedia, -.82 

The Emperor's Answer, 83 

Inconvenience of Interest Laws, 83 

The Emperor's Answer, 84 

The Canal at Nicomedia, 84 

The Emperor's Answer, .85 

An Aqueduct at Sinope, 86 

The Emperor's Answer, 86 

Notes, 89 



C. PLINI1 C^CILII 

SECUNDI 

EPISTOL^ 

SELECTS. 



LIBER I. 

1. C. PLINIUS SECUNDUS SEPTICIO SUO S. 

Frequenter hortatus es, ut epistolas, si quas 
paullo accuratius scripsissem, colligerem publi- 
caremque. Collegi, non servato temporis ordine, 
(neque enim historiam componebam,) sed ut 
quseque in manus venerat. Superest, ut nee te 
consilii, nee me poeniteat obsequii. Ita. enim 
net, ut eas, qua? adhuc neglectse jacent, re- 
quiram: et si quas addidero, non supprimam. 
Vale. 

2. C. PLTNIUS MINUTIO FUNDANO SUO S. 

Mirum est, quam singulis diebus in urbe 
ratio aut constet aut constare videatur luribus 
1 



10 C PLIN1I EPIST. 

cunctisque non constet. Nam, si quern inter- 
roges, Hodie quid cgisti ? respondeat, Officio 
togcD vii^ilis interfui ; sponsalia aut nuptias 
frequentavi ; ille mc ad signandum test amentum, 
ille in advocationem, ille in consilium rogavit. 
Haec quo die feceris, necessaria ; eadem, si 
quotidie fecisse te reputes, inania \identur, rnulto 
magis quum secesseris. Tunc enira subit re- 
cordatio, Quot dies qudm frigidis rebus ab- 
stimsi ! Quod evenit mihi, postquam in Lauren- 
tino meo aut lego aliquid, aut scribo, aut etiam 
corpori vaco, cujus fulturis animus sustinetur. 
Nihil audio, quod audisse, nihil dico, quod 
dixisse poeniteat : nemo apud mc quemquam 
sinistris sermonibus carpit ; neminem ipse re- 
prehendo, nisi unum me, quum parum commode 
scribo : nulla spe, nullo timore solicitor, nullis 
rumoribus inquietor. Mecum tantum et cum 
libellis loquor. Rectam sinceramque vitam ! 
dulce otium, honestumque, ac p?ene omni negotio 
pulchrius ! O mare, 6 littus, verum secrctumque 
muscDiim ! quam multa invenitis, quam multa 
dictatis ! Proindc tu quoque strepitum istum 
inanemque discursum, et multum incptos labores, 
ut primum fuerit occa.sio, reliuquc, teque studiis 
vel otio trade. Satius est enim, ut Attilius 



LIBER PRIMUS. ] 1 

noster eruditissime simul et facetissime dixit, 
otiosum esse, quam nihil agere. Vale. 



3. C. PLINIUS SEPTICIO CLARO SUO S. 

Heus tu ! promittis ad ccenam, nee venis ! 
Dicitur jus, ad assem impendium reddes, nee id 
modicum. Paratae erant lactucae singulae, 
cochleae ternse, ova bina, alica cum mulso et 
nive, (nam hanc quoque computabis, iramo hanc 
in primis, quae perit in ferculo,) olivae Baeticae, 
cucurbitae, bulbi, alia mille non minus lauta. 
Audisses comoedum, vel lectorem, vel lyristen, 
vel, quae mea liberalitas, omnes. At tu apud 
nescio quern, ostvea, echinos, Gaditanas, ma- 
luisti. Dabis poenas, non dico quas. Dure 
fecisti : invidisti, nescio an tibi, certe mihi, sed 
tamen et tibi. Quantum nos lusissemus, risisse- 
mus, studuissemus ! Potes apparatius ccenare 
apud multos : nusquam hilarius, simplicius, 
incautius. In summa, experire : et nisi pqstea 
te aliis potius excusaveris, mihi semper excusa. 
Vale. 



12 C. PLINII EPIST. 

LIBER II. 

1. C. PLINIUS AVITO SUO S. 

Longum.est altius repetere, nee refert, quem- 
admodum accident, ut homo minime familiaris 
coenarem apud quendam, ut sibi videbatur, 
lautum et diligentem ; ut mihi, sordidum simul 
et sumtuosum. Nam sibi et paucis optima 
quasdam ; ceteris, vilia et miuuta ponebat. 
Vinum etiam parvulis lagunculis in tria genera 
descripserat, non ut potestas eligendi, sed ne jus 
esset recusandi : et aliud sibi et nobis, aliud 
minoribus amicis, (nam gradatim amicos habet,) 
aliud suis nostrisque libertis." Anirnadvertit, qui 
mihi proximus recumbebat, et, an probarem, 
interrogavit. Negavi. ' Tu ergo,' inquit, * quam 
consuetudincm sequcris ? ' ' Eaclcm omnibus 
pono. Ad cccnam enim, non ad notam, invito : 
cunctisque rebus czecquo, quos mensd et toro 
aquavi: ' Etidmne Ubcrtos ? ' ' Etiam. Can- 
victores enim time, non Ubcrtos, jnrfo.' Et ille, 
1 Magno tibi constat: ' Minime.' < Qui fieri 
potest ? ' Potest : quia scilicet libcrti mei non- 
idem, quod ego, bibunt, sed idem ego, quod liberti.' 
Et hercule, si guke temperes, non est onerosum, 



LIBER SECUNDUS. 13 

quo utaris ipse, communicare cum pluribus. Ilia 
ergo reprimenda, ilia quasi in ordinem redigenda 
est, si sumtibus parcas, quibus aliquanto rectius 
tua continentia, quam aliena contumelia, consu- 
las. Quorsum hsec ? Ne tibi optima? indolis 
juveni quorundam in mensa luxuria specie 
frugalitatis imponat. Convenit autem amori in 
te meo, quoties tale aliquid inciderit, sub exemplo 
proemonere, quid debeas fugere. Igitur memen- 
to, nihil magis esse vitandum, quam istam 
luxuriae et sordium novam societatem : quae 
cum sint turpissima discreta ac separata, turpius 
junguntur. Vale, 

2. C. PLINIUS CANINIO SUO S. 

Studes ? an piscaris 1 an venaris ? an simul 
omnia? Possunt enirn omnia simul fieri ad 
Larium nostrum. Nam lacus piscem, feras 
silvee, quibus lacus cingitur, studia altissimus 
iste secessus, affatim suggerunt. Sed sive omnia 
simul, sive aliquid facias, non possum dicere, 
Invideo : angor tamen non et mihi licere, quae 
sic concupisco, ut segri vinum, balinea, fontes. 
Nunquamne hos arctissimos laqueos, si solver© 
negatur, abrumpam? Nunquam, puto Nam 
1* 



14 C PLINIl EP1ST. 

veteribus negotiis nova accrescunt, nee tamen 
priora peraguntur : tot nexibus, tot quasi catenis 
majus in dies occupationum agmen extenditur. 
Vale. 



3. C. TLINIUS CALVISIO suo s. 

Assem para, et accipe auream fabulam : fabu- 
las immo. Nam me priorum nova admonuit: 
nee refert, a qua potissimum incipiam. Verania 
Pisonis graviter jacebat; hujus dico Pisonis, 
quern Galba adoptavit. Ad hanc Regulus venit. 
Primum impudentiam hominis, qui venerit ad 
aegram, cujus marito inimicissimus, ipsi invisis- 
simus fuerat. Esto, si venit tantum : at ille 
etiam proximus toro sedit : quo die, qua hora 
nata esset, interrogavit. Ubi audivit, componit 
vultum, intendit oculos, movet labra, agitat 
digitos, computat, nihil, nisi ut diu miseram 
expectatione suspendat. ' llabes,' inquit, ' cli- 
mactericum tempus, sed evades. Quod ut tibi 
magis liqueat, aruspicem consulam, quern sum 
frequenter cxpertus.' Nee mora : sacrificium 
facit, adfirmat, exta cum siderum significatione 
congruere. Ilia, ut in periculo, credula, poscit 
codicillos : legatum Regulo scribit : mox ingra- 



LIBER SECUJNDUS, 15 

vescit : clam at moriens ; O hominem nequam, 
perfidum, ac plus etiam quam perjurum ! ' qui 
sibi per salutem filii pejerasset. Facit hoc 
Regulus non minus scelerate quam frequenter, 
quod iram deorum, quos ipse quotidie fallit, in 
caput infelicis pueri detestatur. Velleius Blsesus, 
ille locuples consularis, novissima valetudine 
conflictabatur : cupiebat mutare testamentum. 
Regulus, qui speraret aliquid ex novis tabulis, 
quia nuper captare eum cceperat, medicos hor- 
tari, rogare, quoquo modo spiritum homini pro- 
rogarent. Postquam signatum est testamentum, 
mutat personam, vertit alloquutionem, iisdemque 
medicis, Quousque miser um cruciatis ? quid in- 
videtis honam mortem, cui dare vitam non 
potestis? Moritur Blsesus : et tanquam omnia 
audisset, Regulo ne tantulum quidem. Suf- 
ficiunt duse fabulae. An scholastica lege 
tertiam poscis 1 Est unde fiat. Aurelia, ornata 
femina, signatura testamentum, sumserat pul- 
cherrimas tunicas. Regulus quum venisset ad 
signandum, Rogo, inquit, lias mihi leges. Au- 
relia ludere hominem putabat ; ille serio instabat. 
Nee multa : coegit mulierem aperire tabulas, ac 
sibi tunicas, quas erat induta, legare : observavit 
scribentem, inspexit an scripsisset. Et Aurelia 



16 C PLINII EPIST. 

quidern vivit : ille tamen istud tanquam moritu- 
ram coegit. Et hie hereditates, hie legata, quasi 
mereatur, accepit ! [Sed quare irascor] in ea 
civitate, in qua jampridem non minora praemia, 
immo majora, nequitia et improbitas, quam pudor 
et virtus habent ? Adspice Regulum, qui ex 
paupere et tenui ad tantas opes per flagitia pro- 
cessit, ut ipse mihi dixerit, quum consuleret, 
quam cito sestertium sexcenties impleturus esset, 
invenisse sese exta duplicia, quibus portendi, 
millies et ducenties habiturum. Et habebit, si 
modo, ut coepit, aliena testamenta, quod est 
improbissiraum genus falsi, ipsis, quorum sunt 
ilia, dictaverit. Vale. 



LIBER III. 

1. C. PLINIUS MACRO SUO S. 

Pergratum est mihi, quod tarn diligenter libros 
avunculi mei lectitas, ut habere omnes velis, 
quacrasque, qui sint omnes. Fungar indicis 
partibus, atque etiam, quo sint ordine scripti, 
notum tibi faciam. Est enim hrec quoque studi- 



LIBER TERTIUS. . 17 

psis non injucunda cognitio. DE JACULA- 
TIONE EUUESTRI UNUS. Hunc, quum 
prsefectus alee militaret, pari ingenio curaque 
composuit. DE VITA POMPONII SECUN- 
DI DUO, a quo singulariter amatus, hoc me- 
morise amici quasi debitum munus exsolvit. 
BELLORUM GERMANISE VIGINTI, qui- 
bus omnia quae cum Germanis gessimus bella 
collegit. Inchoavit, quum in German ia- militaret, 
somnio monitus. Adstitit enim quiescenti Drusi 
Neronis effigies, qui Germanise latissim'e victor 
ibi periit : commendabat memoriam sui, ora- 
batque, ut se ab injuria oblivionis adsereret. 
STUDIOSI TRES, in sex volumina propter 
amplitudinem divisi : quibus oratorem ab incu- 
nabulis instituit et perficit. DUBII SERMO- 
NIS OCTO : scripsit sub Nerone, novissimis 
annis, quum omne studiorum genus paullo 
liberius et erectius periculosum servitus fecisset. 
A FINE AUFIDII BASSI TRIGINTA 
UNUS. NATURiE HISTORIARUM TRI- 
GINTA SEPTEM, opus diffusum, eruditum, 
nee minus varium quam ipsa natura. Miraris, 
quod tot volumina, multaque in his tarn scru- 
pulosa, homo occupatus absolvent 1 Magis 
miraberis, si scieris, ilium aliquamdiu caussas 



18 C. PLINII EPIST. 

actitasse ; decessisse anno sexto et quinqua- 
gesimo : medium tempus distentum impeditum- 
que qua officiis maximis, qua amicitia principum 
egisse. Sed erat acre ingenium, incredibile 
studium, surama vigilantia. Erat sane somni 
paratissimi, nonnunquam etiam inter studia in- 
stantis et deserentis. Ante lucem ibat ad 
Vespasianum imperatorem : nam ille quoquc 
noctibus utebatur : inde ad delegatum sibi 
officium. Reversus domum, quod reliquum erat 
temporis, studiis reddebat. Post cibum socpe 
(quem interdiu levem et facilem veterum more 
sumebat) aestate, si quid otii, jacebat in sole : 
liber legebatur : adnotabat excerpebatque. Ni- 
hil enim legit, quod non excerperet. Dicere 
etiam solebat, nullum esse librum tarn malum, 
ut non aliqua parte prodesset. Post solem 
plerumque frigida lavabatur. Deinde gustabat, 
dormiebatque minimum. Mox, quasi alio die, 
studebat in ccBnae tempus. Super banc liber 
legebatur, adnotabatur, et quidem cursim. 
Memini quendam ex amicis, quum lector quae- 
dam perperam pronuntiasset, revocasse et repeti 
coegisse : huic avunculum meum dixisse, Intel- 
lexer as ncmjje ? quum illc adnuisset, Cur ergo 
revocabas 1 decern amplius versus hac tud inter* 



LIBER TERT1US. 19 

pellatione perdidimus. Tanta erat parsimonia 
temporis. Surgebat sestate a ccena, luce ; 
hieme, intra primam noctis ; et tanquam aliqu& 
lege cogente. Hsec inter medios labores urbis- 
que fremitum. In secessu solum balinei tempus 
studiis eximebatur. Quum dico balinei, de 
interioribus loquor, Nam dum destringitur ter- 
giturque, audiebat aliquid aut dictabat. In 
itinere, quasi solutus ceteris curis, huic uni 
vacabat. Ad latus notarius cum libro et pugil- 
laribus,cujus manus hieme manicis muniebantur, 
ut ne coeli quidem asperitas ullum studiis tempus 
eriperet : qua ex caussa Romas quoque sella 
vehebatur. Repeto, me correptum ab eo, cur 
ambularem. Poteras, inquit, has horas non 
perdere. Nam perire omne tempus arbitrabatur, 
quod studiis non impertiretur. Hac intentione 
tot ista volumina peregit, Electorumque com 
mentarios centum sexaginta mihi reliquit, opis- 
thographos quidem et minutissime scriptos : qua 
ratione multiplicatur hie numerus. Referebat 
ipse, potuisse se, quum procuraret in Hispania, 
vendere hos commentarios Largio Licinio qua- 
dringentis millibus nummum : et tunc aliquanto 
pauciores erant. Nonne videtur tibi, recordanti 
quantum legerit, quantum scripserit, nee in 



20 C. PLINII EPIST. 

officiis ullis, nee in amicitia principum fuisse ? 
rursus, quum audis, quid studiis Iaboris impen- 
dent, nee scripsisse satis, nee legisse ? Quid 
est enira, quod non aut illco occupationes im- 
pedire, aut haEG instantia' non possit efficere ? 
Itaque soleo ridere, quum me quidam studiosum 
vocant, qui, si comparer illi, sum desidiosissimus. 
Ego autem tantum, quern partim publica, partim 
amicorum officia distringunt ? duis ex istis, 
qui tota vita Uteris adsident, collatus illi, non 
quasi somno et inertia? deditus erubescat ? 
Extendi epistolam, quamvis hoc solum, quod 
requirebas, scribere destinassem, quos libros 
reliquisset. Confido tamen, haec quoque tibi non 
minus grata, quam ipsos libros, futura : quce te 
non tantum ad legendos eos, verum etiam ad 
simile aliquid elaborandum, possunt aemulationis 
stimulis excitare. Vale. 



*Z. C. PLINIUS NEPOTI SUO S. 

Adnotasse videor, facta dictaque virorum 
feminarumque illustrium alia clariora esse, alia 
majora. Confirmata est opinio mea hesterno 
Fanniac sermone. Neptis haec Arriae illius, 
quae marito et solatium mortis et exemplum fuit. 



LIBER TERTIUS. 21 

Multa referebat aviae suae non minora hoc, sed 
obscuriora : quse tibi existimo tam mirabilia 
legenti fore, quam mihi audienti faerunt. Mgvo- 
tabat Csecina Partus, maritus ejus, aegrotabat 
et filius, uterque mortifere, ut videbatur : filius 
decessit, eximia pulchritudine, pari verecundia, 
et parentibus non minus ob alia carus, quam 
quod filius erat. Huic ilia ita funus paravit, ita 
duxit exsequias, ut ignoraret maritus. Quin 
imrao quoties cubiculum ejus intraret, vivere 
filium, atque etiam commodiorem esse simulabat. 
Ac persaepe interroganti, quid ageret puer, 
respondebat, Bene quicvit, libenter cibum sumsit. 
Deinde quum diu cohibitae lacrymae vincerent 
prorumperentque, egrediebatur. Turn se dolori 
dabat. Satiata, siccis oculis, composito vultu 
redibat, tanquam orbitatem foris reliquisset. 
Pr33clarum quidem illud ejusdera, ferrum strin- 
gere, perfodere pectus, extrahere pugionem, 
porrigere marito, addere vocem immortalem ac 
paene divinam, pdte, non dolet. Sed tamen 
ista facienti dicentique gloria et aeternitas ante 
oculos erant : quo majus est sine praemio aeter- 
nitatis, sine prasmio gloriae, abdere lacrymas, 
operire luctum,. amissoque filio, matrem adhuc 
agere. Scribonianus arma in Illyrico contra 
2 



22 C. PLINII EPIS-T. 

Claudium moverat : fuerat Pectus in partibu^ 
et occiso Scriboniano, Romam trahebatur. Erat 
adscensurus navem : Arria milites orabat, ut 
simul imponeretur. Nempe enim, inquit, daluri 
cstis consulari viro scrvulos aliquos, quorum e 
manu cibum capiat, a quibus vestiatur, a quibus 
calcietur : omnia vel sola prcestabo. Non im- 
petravit. Conduxit piscatoriam naviculam, in- 
gensque navigium minimo sequuta est. Eadem 
apud Claudium uxori Scriboniani, quum ilia 
profiteretur indicium, Ego, inquit, te audi am, 
•cujus in gremio Scribonianus occisus est, et vivis 1 
Ex quo manifestuin est, ei consilium pulcherri- 
mae mortis non subitum fuisse. Quin etiam 
quum Thrasea, gener ejus, deprecaretur, ne 
mori pergeret, interque alia dixisset, Tu vis ergo 
filiam tuam, si mihi pereundum fucrit, mori 
mccum ? respondit, Si tarn diu tantdquc concor- 
did vixerit tecum, qudm ego cum Pccto, volo. 
Auxerat hoc responso curam suorum : attentius 
custodiebatur : sensit, et, Nihil agitis, inquit : 
potestis enim efficcrc, id male mortar; nc inoriar, 
non potestis. Dum ha3C dicit, exsiluit cathedra, 
adversoque parieti caput ingenti impetu impegit, 
et corruit. Refocillata, Dixcram, inquit, vobis, 
inventuram me, quamlibet duram, ad mortem 



LIBER TERT1US. 23 

mam, si vos facileni negdssetis. Videnturne 
heec tibi majora illo, Pate, 11011 doht, ad quod 
per hsBC perventum est? quum interim illud 
quidem ingeris faraa, hasc, nulla circumfert. 
Unde colligitur, quod initio dixi, alia esse claii- 
ora, alia majora. Vale. 

3! C. PLINIUS PRISCO SUO S. 

Audio Valerium Martialem decessisse, et 
moleste fero. Erat homo ingeniosus, acutus, 
acer, et qui plurimum in scribendo et salis 
haberet et fellis, nee candoris minus. Prose- 
quutus eram viatico secedentem. Dederam hoc 
amicitise, dederam etiam versiculis quos de me 
composuit. Fuit moris antiqui, eos qui ve\ sin- 
gulorum laudes vel urbium scripserant, aut ho- 
noribus aut pecunia ornare : nostris vero tempo- 
ribus, ut alia speciosa et egregia, ita hoc in 
primis exolevit. Nam postquam desiimus facere 
laudanda, laudari quoque ineptum putamus. 
Quasris qui sint versiculi quibus gra'tiam retule- 
rim 1 Remitterem te ad ipsum volumen, nisi 
quosdam tenerem : tu si placuerint hi, ceteros in 
libro requires. Alloquitur Musam, mandat ut 



24 C. PLINII EPIST. 

domum meain in Esquiliis quserat, adeat rev- 
erenter : 

Sed ne tempore non tuo disertam 
Pulses ebriajanuam, videto. 
Toios clat letriccB dies Minerva, 
Dum centum studet auribus virorum 
Hoc, quod secula posterique possint 
Arpinis quoque compararc chartis. 
Seras tutior ibis ad lucernas, 
Hccc hora est tua, quumfurit Lyarns : 
Quum regnat rosa, quum incident capilli, 
Tunc me vel rigidi kg ant Cat ones. 

Meritone eum qui hasc de me scripsit, et tunc 
dimisi amicissime, et nunc, ut amicissimum, de- 
functum esse doleo ? Dedit enim mihi quantum 
maximum potuit, dnturus amplius, si potuisset. 
Tametsi quid homini potest dari mnjus quarn 
gloria, et laus, et ccternitas ? At non erunt a3terna 
quae scripsit. Non crunt fortasse : ille tamen 
scripsit tanquam essent futura. Vale. 



LIBER QUARTUS. 25 

LIBER IV. 

1. C. PLINIUS CORNELIO TACITO SUO S. 

Salvum te in urbem. venisse gaudeo. Venisti 
autem, si quando alias, nunc maxime mihi de- 
sideratus. Ipse pauculis adhuc diebus in Tus- 
culano commorabor, ut opusculum quod est in 
manibus absolvam. Vereor enim ne, si hanc 
intentionem jam in fine intermisero, eegre resu- 
mam : interim ne quid festinationi mese pereat, 
quod sum prsesens petiturus, hac quasi prsecurso- 
ria epistola rogo. Sed prius accipe causas 
rogandi, deinde ipsum quod peto. Proxime 
quum in patria mea fui, venit ad me salutandum 
municipis mei filius prsetextatus. Huic ego, 
' Studes ' ? inquam. Respondit, ( Etiam.' ( Ubi ? ' 
' Mediolani. 9 'Cur non hie?' Et pater ejus 
(erat enim una, atque etiam ipse adduxerat pue- 
rum,) ' Quia nidlos hie prceceptores 7iahe?mts.' 
* Quare nidlos ? Nam vehement er intererat 
vestra qui patres estis (et opportune complures 
patres audiebant,) liberos vestros hie potissimicm 
discere. Ubi enim aut jucundius morarentur 
quam in patria, aut pudicius continerentur qudm 
sub ocrdis parentum ? aut minore sumptu qudm 
2* 



26 C. PLINII EPIST. 

domi? Quantulum est ergo collatd pecunid coil" 
ducere prccccptores ? quodque nunc in Iiabita- 
tiones, in viatica, in ca quce per eg re cmuntur 
(omnia autcm peregre cmuntur) impenditis, 
adjicere mercedibus ? Atquc adeo ego, qui 
nondum liberos habco, parutus sum jwo repub- 
licd, nostra, quasi pro flid vel parotic, tertiam 
partem ejus quod conferre vobis placebit, dare, 
Totum etiam polliccrer, ?iisi timer cm ne hoc 
munus meum quandoque ambitu corrumpcrctur : 
tit accidere mullis in locis video, in quibus prce- 
ceptores publice conducuntur. Huic vitio una 
remedio occurri potest, si parentibus solis jus 
conducendi relinqualur, iisdcmqiu religio rccte 
judicandi necessitate collationis addatur. Nam 
qui fortasse de alieno negligcntes, certe de suo 
diUgentes erunt : ddbuntque operam, ne earn a 
me pecuniam non nisi dignus aecipiat, si accept u- 
rus ct cd) ipsis erit. Froindc conseniite, con- 
spirate, majoremque animum ex meo sumitc, qui 
cupio esse qudm plurimum quod debeam conferre. 
Nihil honest ius prcestare liber is vestris, nihil 
gratius patriot potestis. Edoceantur hie qui hie 
nascuntur, statimque ab infantid natale solum 
am are, frequent are consuescant. Atquc utinam 
tarn claros prccccptores inducatis, ut a fnitimis 



LIBER QUARTUS. 27 

oppidis studio. Mnc petantur ! utque nunc liberi 
vestri aliena in loca, ita mox alieni in liunc locum 
confluant. Haec putavi altius et quasi a fonte 
repetenda ; quo magis scires quara gratura mihi 
foret si susciperes quod injungo. Injungo autem, 
et pro rei magnitudine rogo, ut ex copia studi- 
osorum, quae ad te ex admiratione ingenii tui 
convenit, circumspicias praeceptores quos solici- 
tare possimus : sub ea tamen conditione, ne cui 
fidem raeam obstringam. Omnia enim libera 
parentibus servo. Uli judicent, illi eligant: ego 
mihi curam tantum et impendium vindico. 
Proinde si quis fuerit repertus qui ingenio suo 
fidat, eat illuc ea lege, ut bine nihil q,liud certum 
quam fiduciam suam ferat. Vale. 

2. C. PLTNIUS GALLO SUO g. 

Et admones et rogas ut suscipiam absentis 
Corelli33 caus'am contra C. Cssciliura consulem 1 
designatum. Q,u6d admones, gratias ago : quod 
rogas, queror. Admoneri enim debeo, ut sciam : 
rogari non debeo ut faciam quod mihi non facere 
turpissimum est. An ego tueri Corelli filiam 
dubitem 1 Est quidem mihi cum isto, contra quern 
me advocas, non plane familiaritas, sed tamen 



28 C. PLINII EPIST. 

amicitia. Accedit hue dignitas hominis, atque hie 
ipse cui destinatus est honor : cujus nobis hoc 
major agenda reverentia est, quod jam illo functi 
sumus. Naturale est enim cuique, ut ea quae 
quis adeptus est, ipsa quam amplissima existimari 
velit. Sed mihi cogitanti adfuturum me Corelli 
filiae, omnia ista frigida et inania videntur. Ob- 
versatur oculis ille vir, quo neminem astas nostra 
graviorem, sanctiorem, subtiliorem denique tulit : 
quem ego quum ex admiratione diligere co^pis- 
sem, quod evenire contra solet, magis admiratus 
sum, postquam penitus inspexi. Inspexi enim 
penitus : nihil a me ille secretum, non joculare, 
non serium, non triste, non loetum. Adolescen- 
tulus eram, et jam mihi ab illo honor, atque 
etiam (audebo dicere) reverentia, ut a3quali, 
habebatur. Ille mens in petendis honoribus 
suffragator et testis; ille in inchoandis deductor 
et comes ; ille in gerendis consiliator et rector ; 
ille denique in omnibus officiis nostris quanquam 
et imbecillus et senior, quasi juvenis et validus 
conspiciebatur. Quantum ille fama> mea? domi, 
quantum in publico, quantum etiam apud prin- 
cipem adstruxit? Nam quum forte de bonis 
juvenibus apud Nervam impcratorem sermo in- 
cidisset, et pleriquc me laudibus fcrrent, paulisper 



LIBER QUARTUS. 29 

se intra silentium tenuit, quod illi plurimum 
auctoritatis addebat ; deinde gravitate, quam 
noras, Necesse est, inquit, par dies laudem Se- 
cundum, quia nihil nisi ex consilio meo facit. 
Qua voce tribuit mihi, quantum petere voto 
immodicum erat, nihil me facere non sapientis- 
sime, quum omnia ex consilio sapientissimi viri 
faccrem. Quinetiam moriens, filise suas (ut ipsa 
solet prcedicare,) Multos quidem amieos, inquit, 
tibi in longiore vita paravi, prcecipuos tamen, 
Secundum et Cornutum. Quod dura recordor, 
intelligo mihi laborandum, ne qua parte videar 
hanc de me fiduciam providentissimi viri destitu- 
isse. Quare ego vero Corellia3 adero promp- 
tissime ; nee subire offensas recusabo : quanquam 
non solum veniam me, veriim etiam laudem 
apud istum ipsum, a quo, ut ais, nova lis fortasse 
ut feminas intenditur, arbitror consequuturum, 
si haec eadem in actione, latius scilicet et uberius 
quam epistolarum angustiae sinunt, contigerit 
mihi vel in excusationem, vel etiam in commen- 
dationem meam dicere. Vale. 

3. C. PLINIUS SEMPRONIO RUFO SUO S- 

Interfui Principis optimi cognitioni, in consili- 
um assumptus. Gymnicus agon apud Viennenses, 



30 C. PL1NII EPIST. 

ex cujusdam testamento, celebrabatur. Hunc 
Trebonius Rufinus, vir egregius nobisque am- 
icus, in duumviratu suo tollendum abolendumque 
curavit. Negabatur ex auctoritate publica fe- 
cisse. Egit ipse causara non minus feliciter 
quam diserte. Commendabat actionem, quod 
tanquam homo Romanus et bonus civis in nego- 
tio suo mature et graviter loquebatur. Quum 
sententioe rogarentur, dixit Junius Mauricus (quo 
viro nihil firmius, nihil verius) non esse restitu- 
endum Viennensibus agon a : adjecit, Yellem 
etiam Roma tolli posset. Constanter, inquis, et 
fortiter. Quidni ? Sed hoc Maurico novum 
non est. Idem apud Nervam imperatorem non 
minus fortiter. Ccenabat Nerva cum paucis. 
Veiento proximus, atque etiam in sinu recum- 
bebat. Dixi omnia, quum hominem nominavi. 
Incidit sermo de Catullo Messalino, qui, lu- 
minibus orbatus, ingenio ssevo mala crecitatis 
addiderat. Non verebatur, non erubescebat, 
non miserebatur. Saepius a Domitiano non 
secus ac tela, qurc et ipsa ca^ca et improvida 
feruntur, in optimum quemque contorquebatur. 
De ejus nequitia sanguinariisque sententiis in 
commune omnes super ccenam loquebantur : 
turn ipse Imperator, Quid putamus passurum 



LIBER QUARTUS, 31 

fuisse, si viveret? Et Mauricus, Nobiscum 
ccenaret. Longius abii, libens tamen. Placuit 
agona tolli, qui mores Viennensium infecerat, ut 
noster hie omnium. Nam Viennensium vitia 
intra ipsos resident, nostra late vagantur. Utque 
in corporibus, sic in imperio, gravissimus est 
morbus qui a capite diffunditur. Vale. 



4. C. PLINIUS LICINIO SUO S. 

Attuli tibi ex patria mea pro munusculo qua> 
stionem, altissima ista. eruditione dignissimam. 
Fons oritur in monte, per saxa decurrit, excipitur 
coenatiuncula manu facta : ibi paululum retentus 
in Larium lacum decidit. Hujus mira natura: 
ter in die, statis auctibus ac diminutionibus, 
crescit decrescitque. Cernitur id palam, et cum 
summa voluptate deprebenditur. Juxta recum- 
bis et vesceris : atque etiam ex ipso fonte (nam 
est frigidissimus) potas : interim ille certis di- 
mensisque momentis vel subtrahitur vel assurgit. 
Annulum, seu quid aliud, ponis in sicco, alluitur 
sensim, ac novissime operitur : detegitur rursus, 
paulatimque deseritur : si diutius observes, 



32 C. PLINII EPIST. 

utrumque iterum ac tertio videas. Spiritusne 
aliquis occultior os fontis et fauces modo laxat, 
modo includit, prout Hiatus occurrit, aut decessit 
expulsus 1 Quod in ampullis ceterisque generis 
ejusdem videmus accidere, quibus non hians, 
nee statim patens, exitus. Nam ilia quoque, 
quanquam prona et vergentia, per quasdam ob- 
luctantis anirhae moras crebris quasi singultibus 
sistunt quod effundunt. An quae Oceano natura, 
fonti quoque ? quaque ille ratione aut impellitur 
aut resorbetur, hac modicus hie humor vicibus 
alternis supprimitur vel egeritur ? An ut flumi- 
na, quas in mare deferuntur, adversantibus ventis, 
obvioque aestu retorquentur, ita est aliquid, quod 
hujus fontis excursum per momenta repercutiat 1 
An latentibus venis certa mensura, quas dum 
colligit qued exhauserat, minor rivus est et 
pigrior: quum collegit, agilior majorque profer- 
tur? An nescio quod libramentum abditum et 
caecum, quod quum exinanitum est, suscitat, et 
elicit fontem; quum repletum, moratur et stran- 
gulat 1 Scrutare tu causas (potes enim) quae 
tantum miraculum efficiunt. Mihi abunde est, 
si satis expressi quod emcitur. Vale. 



LIBER QUINTUS, 33 

LIBER V. 
1. C PLINIUS SEVERO SUO S. 

Legatum mihi obvenit modicum, sed amplis- 
simo gratius. Cur amplissimo gratius? Pom- 
ponia Gratilla exhaeredato filio Assudio Curiano, 
haeredem reliquerat me : dederat cohaeredes 
Sertorium Severum, praetorium virum, aliosque 
equites Romanos splendidos. Curianus Alius 
orabat, ut sibi donarem portionem meam, seque 
praejudicio juvarem : eandem tacita conventione 
salvam mihi pollicebatur. Respondebam ; non 
convenire moribus meis aliud palam, aliud 
agere secreto : praBterea, non esse satis hones- 
tum dare et locupleti ut orbo : in summa, non 
profuturum ei, si donassem ; profuturum, si 
cessissem : esse autem me paratum cedere, si 
inique exbaeredatum mihi liqueret. Ad hoc ille, 
Rogo cognoscas. Cunctatus paulum, Faciam, 
inquam : neque enim video cur ipse me minor em 
putem quam tibi videor. Sed jam nunc memento ; 
non defuturum mihi constantiam, si ita Jides 
duxerit, secundum malrem tuam pronuntiandi. 
Ut voles, ait : voles enim quod cBquissimum. 
Adhibui in consilium duos, quos tunc civitas 
3 



34 C. PLINII EPIST. 

nostra spectatissimos habuit, Corellium et Fron- 
tinum. His circumdatus, in cubiculo meo sedi. 
Dixit Curianus quae pro se putabat. Respondi 
paucis ego (neque enim aderat alius qui de- 
functs pudorem tueretur,) deinde secessi, et ex 
consilii sententia ; Videtur, inquam, Curiane, 
mater lua justas habuisse causas irascendi tibi. 
Post* hoc ille cum ceteris subscripsit centum- 
virale judicium, mecum non subscripsit. Ap- 
petebat judicii dies : cohaeredes mei componere 
et transigere cupiebant ; non dimdentia causae, 
sed metu temporum. Verebantur, quod videbant 
multis accidisse, ne ex centumvirali judicio 
capitis rei exirent. Et erant quidam in illis, 
quibus objici et Gratillas amicitia et Rustici 
posset : rogant me, ut cum Curiano loquar. 
Convenimus in aedem Concordiae. Ibi ego; 
Si mater inquam, te ex parte quartd scrip- 
sisset liccredem, num queri jwsscs 1 Quid si 
liccrcclcm quidem instituisset ex assc, scd legatis 
ita cxhausissct, ut non amplius apud te qudm 
quarta remancret ? Igitar siifficcrc tibi debet, si 
exheeredatus a mat re quart am partem ab liceredi- 
bus ejus accipias, quam tamen ego augebo. Sets 
te non subscripsisse mecum, et jam biennium 
transisse, omniaque me usu cepissc. Sed ut te 



LIBER QUINTUS. 35 

cohceredes met tractahiliorem experiantur : utque 
tibi nihil abstulerit reverentia met, offero pro 
med parte tantundem. Tuli fructum non consci- 
entisB modo, verum etiam famae. Ille ergo 
Curianus legatum mihi reliquit : et factum 
meum, nisi forte blandior mihi, antiquum 
notabili honore signavit. Usee tibi scripsi, quia 
de omnibus quae me vel delectant vel angunt, 
non aliter tecum quam mecum loqui soleo : 
deinde, quod durum existimabam, te amantissi- 
mum mei fraudare voluptate, quam ipse ca- 
piebam. Neque enim sum tarn sapiens, ut nihil 
mea intersit, an iis quas honeste fecisse me 
credo, testiflcatio quasdam, et quasi pr33mium 
accedat. Vale. 

2. C. PLINIUS APOLLINARI SUO S. 

Amavi curam et solicitudinem tuam, quod 
quum audisses me asstate Tuscos meos petiturum, 
ne facerem suasisti, dum putas insalubres. Est 
sane gravis et pestilens ora Tuscorum, quae per 
littus extenditur. Sed hi procul a mari recesse- 
runt: quinetiam Apennino, saluberrimo montium, 
subjacent. Atque adeo, ut omnem pro me 
metum ponas, accipe temperiem cosli, regionis 
situm, villae amosnitatem : quas et tibi auditu et 



36 C. PLINII EPIST. 

mihi relatu jucunda erunt. Caelum est hyeme 
frigidum et gelidum. Myrtos, oleas, quaeque 
alia assidao tepore lcetantur, aspernatur ac res- 
puit: laurum tamen patitur, atque etiam viridis- 
simam profert ; interdum, scd non saepius quam 
sub urbe nostra, necat. iEstatis mira dementia, 
Semper aer spiritu aliquo movetur ; frequentius 
tamen auras quam ventos habet. Hinc senes 
multos videas, avos proavosque jam juvenum; 
audias fabulas veteres, sermonesque majorum: 
quumque veneris-illo, putes alio te seculo natum. 
Regionis forma pulcherrima : imaginave amphi- 
theatrum aliquod immensum, et quale sola rerum 
natura possit effingere. Lata et diffusa planities 
moutibus cingitur ; montes summa sui parte 
procera nemora et antiqua habent. Frequens 
ibi et varia venatio : inde cceduas silvse cum ipso 
monte descendunt : has inter pingues terrenique 
colles (neque enini facile usquam saxum, etiam si 
quaaratur, occurrit :) planissimis campis fertilitate 
non cedunt, opimamque messem serins tantum, 
sed non minus percoquunt. Sub his per latus 
omne vinea? porriguntur, unamque niciem longe 
lateque contexunt : quarum a fine, imoque quasi 
margine, arbusta nascuntur ; prata inde, campi- 
que. Campi, quos non nisi ingentes boves et 



LIBER QUINTUS. 37 

fortissima aratra perfringunt. Tantis glebis 
tenacissimum solum, quum primum prosecatur, 
assurgit, ut nono demum sulco perdometur. 
Prata florida et gemmea, trifolium, aliasque 
herbas, teneras semper et molles, et quasi novas, 
alunt. Cuncta enim perennibus rivis nutriuntur ; 
sed ubi aquae plurimum, palus nulla ; quia devexa 
terra quicquid liquoris accepit, nee absorbuit, 
effundit in Tiberim. Medios ille agros secat ; 
navium patiens, omnesque fruges devehit in 
urbem, hyeme duntaxat et vere ; sestate summit- 
titur, immensique fluminis nomen arenti alveo 
deserit, autumno resumit. Magnam capies vo- 
luptatem, si hunc regionis situm ex monte pros- 
pexeris. Neque enim terras tibi, sed formam 
aliquam, ad eximiam pulchritudinem pictam, 
videberis cernere. Ea varietate, ea descriptione, 
quocunque inciderint oculi, reficiuntur. * * * 
Habes causas, cur ego Tuscos meos Tuscula- 
nis, Tiburtinis, Prsenestinisque meis prseponam. 
Nam super ilia quae retuli, altius ibi otium et 
pinguius, edque seenrius : nulla necessitas togse, 
nemo accers.tor ex proximo. Placida omnia et 
quiescentia, quod ipsum salubritati regionis, ut 
purius caelum, ut aer liquidior, accedit. Ibi 
animo, ibi corpore, maxime valeo. Nam studiis 
3* 



38 C. PLINII EPIST. 

animum, venatu corpus exerceo. Mei quoque 
nusquam salubrius degunt ; usque adhuc certe 
neminem ex iis quos eduxeram mecum (venia 
sit dicto) ibi amisi. Dii modo in posterum hoc 
mihi gaudium, hanc gloriam loco servent. Vale. 

3. C. PLINIUS CAPITONI SUO S. 

Suades ut historiam scribam, et suades non 
solus : multi hoc me sa3pe monuerunt, et ego 
volo, non quia commode facturum esse conndo 
(id enim temere credas, nisi expertus) sed quia 
milii pulchrum in primis videtur, non pati oc- 
cidere, quibus seternitas debeatur, aliorumque 
farnam cum sua extendere. Me autem nihil 
Eeque ac diutarnitatis amor et cupido solicitat : 
res homine dignissima, prcesertim qui nullius sibi 
conscius culpa?, posteritatis memoriam non re- 
formidet. Itaque diebus ac noctibus cogito si 
qua me quoque possim tollere humo. Id enim 
voto meo suflicit ; illud supra votum victorquc 
virum volltarc per ora. Quanquam 6. Sed 
hoc satis est, quod piope sola historia polliceri 
videtur. Orationi enim et carmini est parva 
gratia, nisi eloquentia sit summa : historia quo- 
quo modo scripta delectat. Sunt enim homines 



LIBER QUINT US. 39 

natura curiosi, et quamlibet nuda rerum cogni- 
tione capiuntur, ut qui sermunculis etiam fabel- 
lisque' ducantur. Me vero ad hoc studium 
impellit domesticum quoque exemplum. Avun- 
culus meus, idemque per adoptionem pater, 
historias, et quidem religiosissime, scripsit. 
Invenio autem apud sapientes, honestissimura 
esse majorura vestigia sequi, si modo recto 
itinere prsecesserint. Cur ergo cunctor ? Egi 
magnas et graves causas. Has (etiamsi mihi 
tenuis ex eis spes) destino retraclare, ne tantus 
ille labor meus, ni hoc quod reliquum est studii 
addidero, mecum pariter intercidat. Nam si rati- 
onem posteritatis habeas, quicquid non est 
peractum, pro non inchoato est. Dices, Potes 
simul et rescribere actiones, et componere 7«5- 
toria?n. Utinam ! sed utrumque tam magnum 
est, ut abunde sit alterum efficere. Undevicesi- 
mo setatis anno dicere in foro coepi, et nunc 
demum quid prcsstare debeat orator, adhuc 
tamen per caliginem video, duid si huic oneri 
novum accesserit 1 Habet quidem oratio et 
historia multa communia, sed plura diversa in 
his ipsis quae communia videntur. Narrat sane 
ilia ; narrat haec, sed aliter. Huic pleraque 
humilia et sordida, et ex medio petita ; ill! omnia 



40 C. PL1MI EPIST. 

recondita, splendid a, excelsa conveniunt. Hanc 
saepius ossa, musculi, nervi ; illam tori quidam 
et quasi jubae decent. Haec vel maxirae vi, 
amaritudine, instantia ; ilia tractu et suavitate, 
atque etiam dulcedine, placet. Postremo alia 
verba, alius sonus, alia constructio. Nam plu- 
rimum refert, ut Thucydides ait, possessio sit 
an certamen : quorum alterum oratio, alterum 
historia est. His ex causis non adducor, ut duo 
disimilia, et hoc ipso diversa quod maxima, con- 
fundam misceamque, ne tanta quasi colluvione 
turbatus ibi faciam quod hie debeo. Ideoque 
interim veniam, ne a fcrensibus verbis recedam, 
advocandi peto. Tu tamen jam nunc cogita 
quae potissimum tempora aggrediamur. Vetera 
et scripta aliis 1 parata inquisitio, sed onerosa 
collatio : inlacta et nova ? graves offensa3, levis 
gratia. Nam praeter id quod in tantis vitiis 
hominum plura culpanda sunt quam laudanda : 
turn si laudaveris, parous ; si culpaveris, nimius 
fuisse dicaris : quamvis iliud plenissime, hoc 
restrictissime feceris. Sed li33C me non retar- 
dant ; est enim mihi pro fide satis animi. Iliud 
peto praestruas ad quod hortaris, eligasque ma- 
teriam, ne mihi, jam scribere parato, alia rursus 
ipunctationis et morae justa ratio nascatur. Vale. 



LIBER QUINTUS. 41 

4. G. PLINIUS MARCELLING SUO S. 

Tristissimus haec tibi scribo. Fundani nostri 
filia minor est defuncta : qua paella nihil unquam 
festivius, amabilius nee modo longiore vita, sed 
prope immortalitate, dignius vidi. Nondum annos 
quatuordecim impleverat, et jam illi anilis pru- 
dentia, matronalis gravitas erat : ettamen suavitas 
puellaris cum virginali verecundia. Ut ilia patris 
cervicibus inhserebat! ut nos amicos paternos 
et amanter et modeste complectebatur ! ut nu- 
trices, ut paedagogos, ut prseceptores, pro suo 
quemque officio, diligebat ! Q,uam studiose, 
quam intelligenter, lectitabat ! Ut parce custo- 
diteque ludebat ! dua ilia temperantia, qua 
patientia, qua etiam constantia, novissimam 
valetudinem tulit ! Medicis obsequebatur, so- 
rorem, patrem adhortabatur, ipsamque se des- 
titutam corporis sui viribus, vigore animi sustin- 
ebat. Duravit hie illi usque ' ad extremum, nee 
aut spatio valetudinis, aut metu mortis infractus 
est; quo plures gravioresque nobis causas re- 
linqueret et desiderii et doloris. O triste plane 
acerbumque fun us ! 6 morte ipsa mortis tempus 
indignius! Jam destinata erat egregio juveni, 



42 C. PLINII EPIST. 

jam electus nuptiarum dies, jam nos vocati. 
Quod gaudium quo mcErore mutatum est ! Non 
possum exprimere verbis, quantum animo vulnus 
acceperim, quum audivi Fundanum ipsum (ut 
mult a loctuosa dolor invenit) proecipientem, quod 
investes, margaritas, gcmmas, fuerat erogaturus, 
hoc in thura et unguenta et odores impenderetur. 
Est quidem ille eruditus et sapiens, ut qui se ab 
ineunte aetate altioribous studiis artibusque de- 
diderit : sed nunc omnia quae audivit scope, 
quae dixit, aspernatur ; expulsisque virtutibus 
aliis, pietatis est totus. Ignosces, laudabis 
etiam, si cogitaveris quid amiserit. Amisit 
enim filiam quae non minus mores ejus quam os 
vultumque referebat, totumque patrem mira si- 
militudine exscripserat. Proinde si quas ad eum 
de dolore tarn justo litems mittes, memento 
adhibere solatium non quasi castigatorium et 
nimis forte, sed molle et humanum. Quod ut 
facilius admittat, multum faciet medii temporis 
spatium. Ut enim crudum adhuc vulnus meden- 
tium manus reformidat, deinde patitur, atque 
ultro requirit; sic recens animi dolor consolatio- 
nes rejicit ac refugit, mox desiderat, et clemcntcr 
admotis acquiescit. Vale. 



LIBER SEXTUS. 43 

LIBER VI. 

1. C. PLINIUS TACITO SUO S. 

Petis ut tibi avunculi mei exitum scribam, 
quo verius tradere posteris possis : gratias ago. 
Nam video, morti ejus, si celebretur a te, immor- 
talem gloriam esse propositam. Quamvis enim 
pulcherimarum clade terrarum, ut populi, ut 
urbes memorabili casu, quasi semper victurus 
occiderit : quamvis ipse plurima opera et man- 
sura condiderit, multum tamen perpetuitati ejus 
scriptorum tuorum aeternitas addet. Equidem 
beatos puto, quibus deorum munere datum est 
aut facere scribenda, aut scribere legenda : 
beatissimos vero quibus utrumque. Horum in 
numero avunculus meus et suis libris et tuis erit 
Quo libentius suscipio, deposco etiam quod in- 
jungis. Erat Miseni, classemque imperio prae- 
sens regebat. Nono calend. Septembris, hora 
diei fere septima, mater mea indicat ei, apparere 
nubem inusitata et magnitudine et specie. Usus 
ille sole mox frigidam gustaverat jacens, stude- 
batque : poseit soleas, ascendit locum ex quo 
maxime miraculum illud conspici poterat : nubes 
(incertum procul intuentibus ex quo monte : 



44 C. PLINII EPIST. 

Vesuvium fuisse postea cognitum est) oriebatur, 
cujus similitudinem et formam non alia magis 
arbor quam pinus expresserit. Nam Jongissimo 
velut trunco elata in altum, quibusdam ramia 
diffundebatur. Credo quia recenti spiritu evecta, 
deinde senescente eo destituta, aut etiam pon- 
dere suo victa, in latitudinem vanescebat : Can- 
dida interdum, interdum sordida et maculosa, 
prout terrain cineremve sustulerat. Magnum 
propiusque noscendum id eruditissimo viro vi- 
sum. Jubet Liburnicam aptari : mihi, si venire 
una vellem, facit copiara. Respond i, studere 
me malle, et forte ipse quod scriberem dederat. 
Egrediebatur domo, accipit codicillos. Retina; 
Classiarii imminent! periculo exterriti (nam villa 
ea subjacebat, nee ulla nisi navibus fuga) ut se 
tanto discrimini eriperet, orabant. Vertit ille 
consilium, et quod studioso animo inchoaverat, 
obit maximo. Deducit quadriremes, ascendit 
ipse, non Retina) modo, sed multis (erat enim 
frequens amoenitas ora;) laturus auxilium. Pro- 
perat iliac unde alii fugiunt; rectumque cursum, 
recta gubernacula in periculum tenet, adeo 
solutus metu, ut omnes illius mali motus, omnes 
figuras, ut deprehenderat oculis, dictaret enota- 
retque. Jam navibus cinis inciderat, quo pro- 



LIBER SEXTUS. 45 

pius accederet, calidior et densior ; jam pumices 
etiam, nigrique et ambusti et fracti igne lapides : 
jam vadum subitum, ruinaque montis littora 
obstantia : cunctatusque paulum an retro flecte- 
ret, mox # gubernatori ut ita faceret monenti, 
Fortes, inquit, forluna juvat : Pomponianum 
pcfe. Stabiis erat, diremptus sinu medio. Nam 
sensim circumactis carvatisque Iittoribus mare 
infunditur. Ibi, quanquam nondum periculo 
appropinquante, conspicuo tamen, et, quum cres- 
ceret, proximo, sarcinas contulerat in naves, 
certus fugse si contrarius ventus resedisset : quo 
tunc avunculus meus secundissimo invectus, 
complectitur trepidantem, consolatur, hortatur : 
utque timorem ejus sua securitate leniret, deferri 
se in balineurn jubet; lotus accubat, coenat, 
atque hilaris, aut, quod est aeque magnum, simi- 
Iis hilari. Interim e Vesuvio monte pluribus 
locis latissimae flammae altaque incendia reluce- 
bant, quorum fulgor et claritas tenebris noctis 
excitabatur. Ille agrestium trepidatione igni 
relictas desertasque villas per solitudinem ardere, 
in remedium formidinis, dictabat : turn se quieti 
dedit, et quievit verissimo quidem somno. Nam 
meatus animae, qui ill! propter amplitudinem 
corporis gravior et sonantior erat, ab iis qui 
4 



46 C. PLINII EPIST. 

limini obversabantur, audiebatur. -Sed area ex 
qua. diaeta adibatur, ita jam cinere, mixtisque 
pumicibus oppleta surrexerat, ut si longior in 
cubiculo mora esset, exitus negaretur. Excita- 
tus procedit, seque Pomponiano, cet^risque qui 
pervigilarant, reddit. In commune consultant 
an intra tecta subsistant, an in aperto vagentur. 
Nam crebris vastisque tremoribus tecta nutabant, 
et quasi emota sedibus suis, nunc hue, nunc 
illuc, abire aut referri videbantur. Sub dio rur- 
sus, quamquam levium exesorumque pumicum 
casus metuebatur : quod tamen periculorum 
collatio elegit, et apud ilium quidem ratio ratio- 
nem, apud alios timorem timor vicit. Cervicalia 
capitibus imposita linteis constringunt. Id mu- 
nimentum adversus decidentia fuit Jam dies 
alibi, illic nox omnibus noctibus nigrior densior- 
que : quam tamen faces multae variaque lumina 
solvebant. Placuit cgredi in littus, et e proximo 
aspicere ecquid jam mare admitteret, quod adhuc 
vastum et adversum permanebat. Ibi super 
abjectum linteum recubans, semel atque iterum 
frigidam poposcit, hausitque : deinde flammae, 
flammarumque prasnuntius odor sulfuris, alios in 
fugam vertunt, excitant ilium. Innixus servis 
duobus assurrexit, et statim concidit, ut ego 



LIBER SEXTUS. 47 

conjecto, crassiore caligine spiritu obstructo, 
clausoque stomacho, qui illi natura invalidus et 
angustus et frequenter intersestuans erat. Ubi 
dies redditur (is ab eo, quem novissime viderat, 
tertius) corpus inventum est integrum, illaesum 
opertumque, ut fuerat indutus : habitus corporis 
quiescenti quam defuncto similior. Interim 
Miseni ego et mater. Sed nihil ad historiam, 
nee tu aliud quam de exitu ejus scire voluisti. 
Finem ego faciam : unum adjiciam, omnia me, 
quibus inter fueram, quaeque statim quum max- 
ime vera memorantur, audiveram, vere perse- 
quutum : tu potissima excerpes. Aliud est enim 
epistolam, aliud historiam ; aliud amico, aliud 
omnibus scribere. Vale. 



2. C. PLINIUS CORNELIO TACITO SUO S. 

Ais te adductum Uteris, quas exigenti tibi de 
morte avunculi mei scripsi, cupere cognoscere, 
quos ego Miseni relictus (id enim ingressus ab- 
ruperam) non solum metus, verum etiam casus 
pertulerim. Quanquam animus meminisse horret, 
incipiam. Profecto avunculo, ipse reliquum 
tempus studiis (ideo enim remanseram) impendi : 
mox balineum, ccena, somnus inquietus et brevis. 



48 C. PLINII EPIST. 

Praecesserat per multos dies tremor terrae minus 
formidolosus, qui Campania^ non solum castella, 
verum etiam oppida vexare solitus : ilia vero 
nocte ita invaluit, ut non moveri omnia, sed 
everti crederentur. Irrumpit cubiculum meum 
mater : surgebam invicem, si quiesceret, excita- 
turus. Resedimus in area domus, quae mare a 
tectis modico spatio dividebat. Dubito constan- 
tiam vocare an prudentiam debeam : agebam 
enim duodevicesimum annum. Posco librum 
Titi Livii, et quasi per otium lego, atque etiam, 
ut cceperam, excerpo. Ecce, amicus avunculi, 
qui nuper ad eum ex Hispania venerat, ut me et 
matrem sedentes, me vero etiam legentem videt, 
illius patientiam, securitatem meam corripit : 
nihilo segnius ego intentus in librum. Jam 
hora diei prima, et adhuc dubius et quasi langui- 
dus dies, jam quassatis circumjacentibus tectis, 
quanquam in aperto loco, angusto tamen, mag- 
nus et certus ruinae metus. Turn demum ex- 
cedere oppido visum. Sequitur vulgus atto- 
nitum, quodque in pavore simile prudential, 
alienum consilium suo praefert, ingentique ag- 
mine abeuntes premit et impellit. Egre^si tecta 
consistimus: inulta ibi miranda, multas formidi- 
nes patimur. Nam vehicula quae produci 



LIBER SEXTUS. 49 

jusseramus, quanquam in pianissimo campo, in 
contrarias partes agebantur, ac ne lapidibus 
quidem fulta, in eodem vestigio quiescebant. 
Prceterea mare in se resorberi, et tremore terras 
quasi repelli videbatur. Certe processerat littus, 
multaque animalia maris in siccis arenis detine- 
bat. Ab altero latere nubes atra et horrenda 
ignei spiritus tortis vibratisque discursibus rupta, 
in longas flammarum flguras dehiscebat : fulgo- 
ribus illae et similis et majores erant. Turn verd 
ille idem ex Hispania amicus, acrius et instan- 
tius, Si frater, inquit, tuus, si tuus avunculus 
vivit, vult esse vos salvos : si periit, superstates 
voluit : proi/ide quid cessatis evadere ? Respon- 
dimus, non commissuros nos, ut de salute ejus 
incerti, nostrae consuleremus. Non moratus 
ultra proripit se, effusoque cursu periculo aufer- 
tur : nee multo post, ilia nubes descendere in 
terras, operire maria. Cinxerat Capreas et 
absconderat: Miseni quod procurrit, abstulerat. 
Turn mater orare, hortari, jubere, quoquo modo 
fugerem : posse enim juvenem ; se et annis et 
corpore gravem bene morituram, si mihi causa 
mortis non fuisset. Ego contra, salvum me, 
nisi una, non futurum : deinde manum ejus am- 
plexus, addere gradum cogo : paret segre, incu- 
4* 



50 C. PLINII EPIST. 

satque se quod me moretur. Jam cinis adhuc 
tamen rarus : respicio ; densa caligo tergis 
imminebat, quae nos torrentis modo infusa terrae, 
sequebatur. Dcflectamus, inquam, dum vidtmus, 
ne in via strati, comit ant turn turbd in tenebris 
obteramur. Vix consederamus, et nox, non 
quasi illunis aut nubila, sed qualis in locis 
clausis lumine extincto : audires ululatus femina- 
rum, infantium quiiitatus, clamores virorum : 
alii parentes, alii liberos, alii conjuges vocibus 
requirebant, vocibus noscitabant : hi suum 
casum, illi suorum miserebantur : erant qui metu 
mortis mortem precarentur. Multi ad deos 
manus tollere ; plures nusquam jam deos ullos, 
aBternamque illam et novissimam noctem mundo 
interpretabantur. Nee defuerunt qui fictis men- 
titisque terroribus vera pericula augerent. Pau- 
lum reluxit ; quod non dies nobis, sed adventantis 
ignis indicium videbatur : et ignis quidem longius 
substitit: tenebrse rursus, cinis rursus multus et 
gravis : hunc identidem assurgentes excutiebamus : 
operti alioqui, atque etiam oblisi pondere essemus. 
Possem gloriari, non gemitam mihi, non vocem 
parum fortem in tantis periculis excidisse, nisi 
me cum omnibus, omnia mecum perire, misero, 
rnagno tamen mortalitatis solatio credidissem. 



LIBER SEPTIMUS. 51 

Tandem ilia caligo tenuata quasi in fumum 
nebulamve decessit : mox dies verus ; sol etiam 
effulsit, luridus tamen ; qualis esse quum deficit 
solet. Occursabant trepidantibus adhuc oculis 
mutata omnia, altoque cinere tanquam nive ob- 
ducta. Regressi Misenura, curatis utcunque 
corporibus, suspensam dubiamque mentem spe 
ac metu exegimus : metus praevalebat. Nam et 
tremor terras preseverabat, et plerique lymphati 
terrificis vaticinationibus et sua et aliena mala 
ludificabantur. Nobis tamen ne tunc quidem, 
quanquam et expertis periculum, et expectanti- 
bus, abeundi consilium, donee de avunculo 
nuntius veniret. Hasc, nequaquam historia digna, 
non scripturus leges, et tibi, scilicet qui requi- 
sisti, imputabis, si digna ne epistola quidem 
videbuntur. Vale. 



LIBER VII. 

1. C PLINIUS RESTITUTO SUO S. 

Terret me hsec tua tam pertinax valetudo, et 
quanquam te temperantissimum noverim, vereor 
tamen ne quid illi etiam in mores tuos liceat. 



52 C. PLINII EPIST. 

Proinde moneo patienter resistas. Hoc lauda- 
bile, hoc salutare. Admittit humana natura, 
quod suadeo. Ipse certe sic agere sanus cum 
meis soleo. Spero quidem, si forte in advcrsum 
valetudinem incidcro, nihil me desideraturum vel 
pudore vel pamitcntia dignum : si tamen super- 
averit morbus, denuntio ne quid mild dctur, Jiisi 
permitt ntibus medicis : sciantque, si dederint, 
ila vindicaturum nt solent cdii qua; negantur. 
Quinetiam quum perustus ardentissima febri, 
tandem remissus unctusque acciperem a medico 
potionem, porrexi manum, utque me tangeret 
dixi, admotumque jam labris poculum reddidi. 
Postea quum vicesimo valetudinis die balineo 
praepararer, mussantesque medicos repente vi- 
dissem, causam requisivi. Responderunt, posse 
me tuld lavari, non tamen omnino sine aliqud 
suspicione. Quid, inquam, necesse est ? Atque 
ita spe balinei, cui jam videbar inferri, placide 
leniterque dimissa, ad abstinentiam rursus, non 
secus ac modo ad balineum, animum vultumque 
composui. Q,ua3 tibi scripsi, primum nt te non 
sine exemplo monerem ; deinde nt in posterum 
ipse ad eandem temperantiam astringerer, quum 
me hac epistola quasi pignore obligavissem. 
Vale. 



LIBER SEPTIMUS. 53 

2, C. PLINIUS FUSCO SUO S. 

Quaeris quemadmodum in secessu, quo jam- 
diu frueris, putem te studere oportere. Utile 
imprimis, et multi praecipiunt, vel ex Graeco in 
Latinum, vel ex Latino vertere in Graecum : quo 
genere exercitationis proprielas splendorque ver- 
borum, copia figurarum, vis explicandi, praeterea 
imitatione optimorum similia inveniendi facultas 
paratur : simul quae legentem fefellissent, trans- 
ferentem fugere non possunt. Intelligentia ex 
hoc et judicium acquiritur. Nihil obfuerit, quae 
legeris hactenus, ut rem argumentumque teneas, 
quasi semulum scribere, lectisque conferre, ac 
sedulo pensitare, quid tu, quid ille commodius. 
Magna gratulatio, si tu nonnulla ; turn magnus 
pudor, si cuncta ille melius. Licebit interdum 
et notissima eligere, et certare cum electis. 
Audax haec, non tamen improba, quia secreta, 
contentio : quanquam multos videmus ejusmodi 
certamina sibi cum multa laude sumpsisse, 
quosque subsequi satis habebant, dum non des- 
perant, antecessisse. Poteris et quae dixeris, 
post oblivionem retractare, multa retinere, plura 
transire ; alia interscribere, alia rescribere. La- 
boriosum istud et taedio plenum, sed difficultate 



54 C. PLINII EPIST. 

ipsa fructuosum, recalescere ex integro, et 
resumere impetum fractum omissumque ; pos- 
tremo, nova vckit membra peracto corpori 
intexere, nee tamen priora turbare. Scio nunc 
tibi esse praecipuum studium orandi; sed non 
ideo semper pugnacem hunc et quasi bellatorium 
stylum suaserim. Ut enim terras variis mutatis- 
que seminibus, ita ingenia nostra nunc hac, 
nunc ilia meditatione recoluntur. Volo interdum 
aliquem ex historia locum apprebendas : volo 
epistolam diligentius scribas, volo carmina. Nam 
seepe in orationes quoque non historica modo, sed 
prope poetica descriptionum necessitas incidit ; 
et pressus sermo purusque ex epistolis petitur. 
Fas est et carmine remitti, non dico continuo et 
longo (id enim perfici nisi in otio non potest) sed 
hoc arguto et brevi, quod apte quantaslibet oc- 
cupationes curasque distinguit. Lusus vocantur ; 
sed hi lusus non minorem interdum gloriam. 
quam seria consequuntur : atque adeo (cur enim 
te ad versus non versibus adhorter ?) 

Ut laus est cera, mollis cedensque scquatur 
Si dodos digitos , jussaque Jiat opus ; 

Et nunc informet Mar tern castamquc Minervam, 
Nunc Venerem effingat, nunc Veneris puerum ; 



LIBER SEPTIMUS. 55 

Utque sacri f antes non sola incendia sistunt, 
Scepe etiam flares vernaque pratajuvavt ; 

Sic hominvm ingenium .fiecti ducique per artes 
Nun rigidus ductd mobilitate decet. 

Itaque summi oratores, sum mi etiam viri sic se 
aut exercebant aut delectabant, irarao delectabant 
exercebantque. Nam mirum est, ut his opuscu- 
lis animus intendatur remittaturque. Recipiunt 
enim amores, odia, iras, misericordiam, urban- 
itatem, omnia denique quae ad vitam pertinent, 
atque etiam in foro causisque versantur. I nest 
his quoqne eadem quae aliis carmiuibus utilitas, 
quod metri necessitate devincti soluta oratione 
Isetamur, et quod facilius esse comparatio osten- 
dit, libentius scribimus. Habes plura etiam 
fortasse quam requirebas: unum tamen omisi. 
Non enim dixi quae legenda arbitrarer : quan- 
quam dixi, quum dicerem, quae scribenda. Tu 
memineris, sui cujusque generis auctores diligen- 
ter.eligere. ( Aiunt enim, multum legendum esse, 
non multa.) Q,ui sint hi, ade6 notum provoca- 
tumque est, ut demonstratione non egeant; et 
alioqui tarn immodice epistola me extendi, ut 
dum tibi quemadraodum studere debeas suadeo, 
studendi tempus abstulerim. Q,uin ergo pugil- 



56 C. PLINIJ EPIST. 

lares resumis, et aliquid ex his, vel istud ipsum 
quod coeperas, scribis. Vale. 



3. C. PLINIUS TACITO SUO S. 

Librum tuum legi, et quam diligentissime 
potui, annotavi quae commutanda, quae eximenda 
arbitrarer. Nam et ego verura dicere assuevi, 
et tu libenter audire. Neque enim ulli patien- 
tius reprehenduntur, quam qui maxime laudari 
merentur. Nunc a te librum meum cum anno- 
tationibus tuis exspecto. O jucundas, 6 pulchras 
vices! Quam me delectat, quod, si qua posteris 
cura nostri, usquequaque narrabitur, qua Con- 
cordia, simplicitate, fide vixerimus ! Erit rarum 
et insigne, duos homines aetate, dignitate prope- 
modum aequales, nonnullius in Uteris nominis 
(cogor enim de te quoque parcius dicere, quia 
de me simul dico,) alterum alterius studia fovisse. 
Equidem adolescentulus, quum jam tu fama 
gloriaque floreres, te sequi, tibi lottgo, sed prnx- 
imus, intervallo et esse et haberi concupiscebam. 
Et erant multa clarissima ingenia ; sed tu mihi 
(ita similitudo naturae ferebat) maxime imitabilis, 
maxime imitandus videbaris. Quo magis gaudeo, 
quod, si quis de studiis sermo, una nominamur ; 



LIBER SEPTIMUS. 57 

quod de te loquentibus statim occurro. Nee 
desunt qui uni ut utrique nostrum praeferantur. 
Sed nihil interest rnea, quo loco jungimur. 
Nam mihi primus, qui a te proximus. Quin 
etiam in testamentis debes annotasse, nisi quis 
forte alterutri nostrum amicissimus, eadem legata, 
et quidem pariter, accipimus. Quae omnia hue 
spectant, ut in vicem ardentius diligamus, cum 
tot vinculis nos studia, mores, fama, suprema 
denique hominum judicia constringant. Vale. 

4. C. TLINIUS MAXIMO SUO S. 

Nuper me cujusdam amici languor admonuit, 
optimos esse nos dum infirmi sumus. Q,uem 
enim infirmum aut avaritia aut libido solicitat ? 
Non amoribus servit, non appetit honores, opes 
negligit, et quantulumcunque, ut relicturus, satis 
habet : tunc deos, tunc hominem esse se memi- 
nit : invidet nemini, neminem miratur, meminem 
despicit, ac ne sermonibus quidem malignis aut 
attendit, aut alitur : balinea imaginatur et fontes. 
Haec surnma curarum, summa votorum ; mol- 
lemque in posterum et pinguem, si contingat 
evadere, hoc est, innoxiam beatamque destinat 
vitam. Possum ergo, quod pluribus verbis, 
5 



58 C. PUN II EPIST. 

pluribus etiam voluminibus philosophi docere 
conantur, ipse breviter tibi mihique praecipere, 
ut tales esse sani perseveremus, quales nos futu- 
ros profitemur infirmi. Vale. 



5. C. PLINIUS TACITO SUO S. 

Auguror (nee me fallit augurium) historias 
tuas immortales futuras : quo magis illis (in- 
genue fatebor) inseri cupio. Nam si esse nobis 
curse solet ut facies nostra ab optimo quoque 
artifice exprimatur, nonne debemus optare, ut 
operibus nostris similis tui scriptor praedicatorque 
contingat? Demonstro itaque, quanquam dili- 
gentiam tuam non fugere possit, cum sit in 
publicis actis, demonstro tamen, quo magis 
credas, jucundum mihi futurum, si factum 
meurn, cujus gratia periculo crevit, tuo ingenio, 
_tuo testimoiiio ornaveris. Dederat me Senatus 
cum Herennio Senecione advocatum provincise 
Bcetica3 contra Boebium Massam : damnatoque 
Massa censuerat ut bona ejus publice custodi- 
rentur. Senecio, quum explorasset consules 
postulationibus vacaturos, convenit me : et, Qua 
concordid, inquit, injunclam nobis accusationem 
exsequuti sumus, hac adeamus consules, peta- 



LIBER SEPTIMUS. 59 

musque ne bona dissipari sinant, quorum esse in 
custedid debent. Respondi; Quum simus ad- 
vocati a senatu dati, dispice, num peractas putes 
partes nostras, Saiatus cogniiione finita. Et 
IUe ; Tu quern voles tibi ierminum statues, cui 
nulla cum provincid jiecessitudo, nisi ex beneficio 
iuo, et hoc recenti : ipse et natus ibi, et qu.cestor 
in ed fui. Turn ego; Si fixum tibi istud ac 
deliberatum, sequar te, lit si qua ex hoc invidia 
erit, non tua tantum sit. Venimus ad consoles, 
dicit Senecio quae res ferebat : aliqua subjungo. 
Vixdum conticueramus, et Massa questus Sene- 
cionem non advocati Jidem, sed inimici amaritu- 
dinem implesse, impietatis reum postulat. Horror 
omnium : ego autem, Vereor, inquam, claris- 
simi consules, ne mi hi 3Iassa silentio suo prce- 
varicationem objecerit, quod non et me reum 
postulavit. Q,use vox et statim excepta, et 
postea multo sermone celebrata est. Divus 
quidem Nerva (nam privatus quoque attendebat 
his quee recte in publico fierent) missis ad me 
gravissimis Uteris, non mihi solum, verum etiam 
seculo est gratulatus, cui exemplum (sic enim 
scripsit) simile antiquis contigisset. Haec, ut- 
cunque se habent, notiora, clariora, majora tu 
facies: quanquam non exigo ut excedas actse 



60 C. PLINIl EPIST. 

rei modum. Nam nee historia debet egredi 
veritatem, et koneste factis Veritas sufficit. Vale. 



LIBER VIII. 

1. C. PLINIUS ROMANO SUO S. 

Vidistine aliquando Clitumnum fontem 1 Si 
nondum (et puto nondum : alioqui narasses mihi,) 
vide; quem ego (pcenitet tarditatis) proximo 
vidi. Modicus collis assurgit, antiqua. cupressu 
nemorosus et opacus. Hanc subter fons exit, 
et exprimitur pluribus venis, sed imparibus; 
eluctatusque facit gurgitem, qui lato gremio 
patescit purus et vitreus, ut numerare jactas 
stipes et relucentes calculos possis. Inde non 
loci devexitate, sed ipsa sui copia et quasi 
pondere, impellitur. Fons adhuc, et jam am- 
plissimum flumen atque etiam navium patiens; 
quas obvias quoque et contrario nisu in diversa 
tendentes, transmittit et perfert; adeo validus 
ut ilia qua properat, ipse, quanquam per solum 
planum, remis non adjuvetur : idem aegerrime 
remis contisque superetur adversus. Jucundum 



LIBER OCTAVUS. 61 

tttrumque per jocum ludumque fluitantibus,utflex- 
erint cursum, laborera otio, otium labore variare. 
Ripae fraxino multa, multa populo vestiuntur : 
quas perspicuus amnis, velut mersas, viridi im- 
agine annumerat. Rigor aquae certaverit nivibus ; 
nee color cedit. Adjacet templum, priscum et 
religiosum. Stat Clitumnus ipse amictus orna- 
tusque praetexta. Praesens numen, atque etiam 
fatidicum, indicant sortes. Sparsa sunt circa 
sacella complura, totidemque dei simulacra: sua 
cuique venerat.io, suum nomen ; quibusdam vero 
etiam fontes. Nam, praeter ilium quasi parentem 
caeterorum, sunt minores capite discreti : sed 
flumini miscentur, quod ponte transmittitur. Is 
terminus sacri profanique. In superiore parte 
navigare tantum, infra etiam natare concessum. 
Balineum Hispellates, quibus ilium locum divus 
Augustus dono dedit, publice prsebent, et hos- 
pitium. Nee desunt villae, quae sequutae fluminis 
amoenitatem, margini insistunt. In summa, 
nihil erit ex quo non capias voluptatem. Nam 
studebis quoque, et leges multa multorum omni- 
bus columnis, omnibus parietibus inscripta, qui- 
bus fons ille deusque celebratur. Plura laudabis, 
nonnulla ridebis; quanquam tu vero, quae tua 
humanitas, nulla ridebis. Vale. 
5* 



62 C. PLINII EPIST. 

2. C. PLTNIUS MACRINO SUO S. 

Num istic quoque immite et turbidum coelum? 
Hie assiduas tempestates, et crebra diluvia. Ti- 
beris alveum excessit, et demissioribus ripis alte 
superfunditur. Quanquam fossa, quam provi- 
dentissimus imperator fecit, exhaustus, premit 
valles, innatat campis ; quaque planum solum, 
pro solo cernitur. Inde, quae solet flumina 
accipere, et permista devehere, velut obvius 
retro cogit ; atque ita alienis aquis operit agros, 
quos ipse non tangit. Anio, delicatissimus 
amnium, ideoque adjacentibus villis velut invita- 
tus retentusque, magna ex parte nemora, quibus 
inumbratur, et fregit et rapuit. Submit montes, 
et decidentium mole pluribus locis clausus, dum 
amissum iter quserit, impulit tecta, ac sese super 
ruinas evexit atque extulit. Viderunt hi, quos 
excelsioribus terris ilia tempestas non deprehen- 
dit, alibi divitum apparatus, et gravem supel- 
lectiiem, alibi instrumenta ruris : ibi boves, 
aratra, rectores ; hie soluta et libera armenta ; 
atque inter haec arborum truncos, aut villarum 
trabes atque culmina, varie lateque fluitantia. 
Ac ne ilia quidem loca malo vacaverunt, ad quae 
non ascendit amnis. Nam pro amne imber 



LIBER OCTAVUS. 63 

assiduus, et dejecti nubibus turbines : prorupta 
opera, quibus pretiosa rura cinguntur : quassata 
atque etiam decussa monimenta. -Multi ejus- 
modi casibus debilitaii, obruti, obirili, et aucta 
luctibus damna. Ne quid simile istic, pro 
mensura periculi, vereor : teque rogo, si nihil 
tale est, quam maturissime solicitudini meee 
consulas : sed et, si tale, id quoque nunties. 
Nam parvulum differt, patiaris adversa an ex- 
pectes : nisi quod tamen est dolendi modus, 
non est timendi. Doleas enim, quantum scias 
accidisse : timeas, quantum possit accidere. 
Vale. 



J. C. PLTNIUS GALLO SUO S. 

Ad quse noscenda iter ingredi, transmittere 
mare solemus, ea sub oculis posita negligimus : 
seu quia ita natura comparatum, ut prov\imorum 
incuriosi, longinqua sectemur ; seu quod omnium 
rerum cupido languescit, quum facilis occasio 
est; seu quod differimus, tanquam saepe visuri, 
quod datur videre quoties velis cernere. Qua- 
cunque de causa, permulta in urbe nostra, 
juxtaque urbem, non oculis modo, sed ne auribus 
quidem novimus : quae si tulisset Achaia, ./Egyp- 



64 C. PLIiNII EPIST. 

tus, Asia, aliave quselibet miraculorum ferax. 
commendatrixque terra, audita, perlecta, lustra- 
taque haberemus. Ipse certe nuper, quod nee 
audieram ante, nee videram, audivi pariter et 
vidi. Exegerat prosocer meus, ut Amerina 
praedia sua inspicerem. Haec perambulanti mihi 
ostenditur subjacens lacus, nomine Vadimonis; 
simul quaedam incredibilia narrantur. Perveni 
ad ipsum. Lacus est in similitudinem jacentis 
rotae circumscriptus, et undique aequalis ; nullus 
sinus, obliquitas nulla, omnia dimensa, paria, et 
quasi artificis manu cavata et excisa. Spa- 
tium modicum, quod tamen sentiat ventos, et 
fluctibus intumescat. Nulla in hoc navis (sacer 
enim est) sed innatant insular herbidae, omnes 
arundine et junco tectae, quaeque alia foecundior 
palus, ipsaque ilia extremitas lacus effert. Sua 
cuique figura, ut motus : cunctis margo derasus, 
quia frequenter vel littori vel sibi illisae terunt 
terunturque. Interdum junctas copulataBque et 
continenti similes sunt; interdum discordan- 
tibus ventis digeruntur ; nonnunquam destitutae 
tranquillitate singulas fluitant. Saepe minores 
majoribus, velut cymbulae oneraria?, adhaerescunt ; 
saepe inter se majores minoresque quasi cursum 
certamenque desumunt; rursus omnes in eun- 



LIBER OCTAVUS, 05 

dem locum appulsae, qua steterunt, proraovent 
terram, et modo hac, modo iliac, lacum reddunt 
auferuntque ; ac turn demum, quum medium 
tenuere, non contrahunt. Constat, pecora her- 
bas sequuta, sic in insulas illas, ut in extremam 
ripam, procedere solere, nee prius intelligere 
mobile solum, quam littore abrepta, quasi illata 
et imposita, circumfusum undique lacum pavent ; 
mox quo tulerit ventus egressa, non magis se 
descendisse sentire, quam senserint ascendisse. 
Idem lacus in flumen egeritur : quod ubi se 
paulisper oculis dedit, specu mergitur, alteque 
conditum meat : ac, si quid ante quam subdu- 
ceretur accepit, servat et profert. Haec tibi 
scripsi, quia nee minus ignota quam mihi, nee 
minus grata credebam. Nam te quoque, ut me, 
nihil aeque ac naturae opera delectant. Vale, 



4. C. PLINIUS GEMINIO SUO S. 

Nostine hos, qui omnium libidinum servi sic 
aliorum vitiis irascuntur, quasi invideant, et 
gravissime puniunt, quos maxime imitantur? 
quum eos etiam, qui non indigent dementia 
ullius, nihil magis quam lenitas deceat. Atque 
ego optimum et emendatissimum existimo, qui 



QQ C. PLINII EPIST. 

ceteris ita ignoscit, tanquam ipse quotidie peccet ; 
ita peccatis abstinet, tanquam nemini ignoscat. 
Proinde hoc domi, hoc foris, hoc in omni vitae 
genere tencamus, ut nobis implacabilis simus ; 
exorabiles istis etiam, qui dare veniam nisi sibi 
nesciunt : mandemusque memoriae, quod vir 
mitissimus, et ob hoc quoque maximus, Thrasea, 
crebro dicere solebat, Qui vilia oclit, homines 
odit. Fortasse quceris, quo commotus hssc scri- 

bam ? Quidam nuper Sed melius coram ; 

quanquam ne tunc quidem. Vereor enim, ne 
id quod improbb eos sectari, carpere, referre, 
huic, quod quam maxime praecipiiiins, repugnet. 
Quisquis ille, qualiscunque, sileatur : quern in- 
signire, exempli non nihil ; non insignire, hu- 
manitatis plurimum refert. Vale. 

5. C. PLINIUS MAXIMO SUO S- 

Amor in te raeus cogit, non ut prascipiam 
(neque enim pra3ceptore eges) admoneam tamen, 
ut quae scis, teneas et observes, aut scias melius. 
Cogita, te missum in provincial!) Achaiam, illara 
veram et meram Graeciam, in qua primum 
humanitas, literse, etiam fruges, inventae esse 
creduntur; missum ad ordinandum statum lib- 



LIBER OCTAVUS. 67 

erarum civitatum, id est, ad homines maxime 
liberos, qui jns a natura datum, virtute, meritis, 
amicitia, fcedere denique et religione tenuerunt. 
Reverere conditoris deos, numina deorum. 
Reverere gloriam veterem, et haric ipsam se- 
nectutem, qua? in homine venerabilis, in urbibus 
sacra est. Sit apud te honor antiquitati, sit 
ingentibus factis,. sit fabulis quoque : nihil ex 
cujusquam dignitate, nihil ex libertate, nihil 
etiam ex jactatione decerpseris. Habe ante 
oculos, hanc esse terram quae nobis miserit 
jura, quae leges non victa acceperit sed peten- 
tibus dederit; Athenas esse, quas adeas ; Lace- 
daemonem esse, quam regas : quibus reliquam 
umbram, et residuum libertatis nomen eripere, 
durum, ferum, barbarumque est. Vides a medi- 
cis, quanquam in adversa valetudine nihil servi 
ac liberi differant, mollius tamen liberos clemen- 
tiusque tractari. Recordare, quid quseque civitas 
fuerit ; non ut despicias quod esse desierit. 
Absit superbia, asperitas ; nee timueris contemp- 
tum. An contemnitur, qui imperium, qui fasces 
habet, nisi qui humilis, et sordidus, et qui se 
primus ipse contemnit 1 Male vim suam potestas 
aliorum contumeliis experitur ; male terrore ven- 
eratio acquiritur: longeque valentior amor ad 



68 C. PLINII EPIST. 

obtinendum quod velis, quam timor. Nam timor 
abit si recedas, manet amor : ac sic, ut ille in 
odium, hie in reverentiam vertatur. Te vero 
etiam atque etiam (repetam enim) meminisse 
oportet. officii tui titulum, ac tibi ipsi iuterpretari, 
quale quantumque sit ordinare statum liberarum 
civitatum. Nam quid ordinatione civilius 1 
Quid libertate pretiosius? Porro quam turpe, si 
ordinatio eversione, libertas servitute mutetur? 
Accedit, quod tibi certamen est tecum : onerat 
te quaBsturae tuae fama, quam ex Bithynia opti- 
mam revexisti : onerat testimonium principis : 
onerat tribunatus, pretura, atque haec ipsa lega- 
tio, quasi premium data. Quo magis nitendum 
est, ne in longinquam provinciam quam subur- 
banum, ne inter servientes quam iiberos, ne forte 
quam judicio missus, ne rudis et incognitus 
quam exploratus probatusque, humanior, melior, 
peritior fuisse videaris : cum sit alioqui, ut saepe 
audisti, saepe legisti, multo deformius, amittere 
quam non assequi laudem. Haec velim credas 
(quod initio dixi,) scripsisse me admonentem, 
non praecipientem ; quanquam praecipientem quo- 
que. Quippe non vereor, in amore ne modum 
excesserim. Neque enim periculum est, ne sit 
nimium, quod esse maximum debet. Vale. 



LIBER NONUS. 69 

LTBER IX. 

1. C. PLINIUS PAULINO SUO S. 

Alius alium, ego beatissimum existimo, qui 
bonae mansuraeque famae praesumptione perfrui- 
tur, certusque posteritatis cum futura gloria vivit. 
Ac mihi nisi prasmium aeternitatis ante oculos, 
pingue illud altumque otium, placeat. Etenim 
omnes homines arbitror oportere aut immortalita- 
tem suam aut mortalitatem cogitare : et illos 
quidem contendere et non remitti, turn hos 
quiescere, nee brevem vitam caducis laboribus 
fatigare : ut video multos, misera simul et 
ingrata imagine industriae, ad mortalitatem sui 
pervenire. Haec ego tecum, quae quotidie me- 
cum, ut desinam mecum, si dissenties tu ; quan- 
quam non dissenties, ut qui semper praeclarum 
aliquid et immortale meditaris. Vale. 

2. C. PLINIUS JUNIORIO SUO S. 

Castigabat quidam filium suum, quod paulo 

sumptuosius equos et canes emeret. Huic ego, 

juvene digresso, ffeus tu, nwiquamne fecisti, 

quod a patre corripi posset ? Fecisti, dico? 

6 



70 C. FLINII EPIST. 

Non inter dum facts quod Jilius tuus, si repente 
pater ille, til Jilius , pari gravitate reprehendat ? 
Non omncs homines aliquo errorc ducuntur ? 
Non hie in illo sibi, in hoc alius, indulgct ? 
Haec tibi admonitus immodicae servitatis ex- 
emplo, pro amore mutuo, scripsi, ne quando tu 
quoque filium tuum acerbius duriusque tractares. 
Cogita et ilium puerum esse, et te fuisse ; atque 
ita hoc quod es pater utere, ut memineris, et te 
hominem esse, et hominis patrem. Vale. 

3. C. PLINIUS SABINIANO SUO S. 

Libertus tuus, cui succensere te dixeras, venit 
ad me, advolutusque pedibus meis tanquam tuis 
haesit Flevit multum, multumque rogavit; 
multum etiam tacuit : in summa, fecit mihi 
fidem poenitentiaB. Vere credo emendatum, quia 
deliquisse se sentit. Irasceris, scio : et irasceris 
merito, id quoque scio : sed tunc prascipua 
mansuetudinis laus, quum irae causa justissima 
est. Amasti hominem, et, spero, amabis: interim 
sufBcit, ut exorari te sinas. Licebit rursus irasci, 
si meruerit : quod exoratus excusatius flicies. 
Remitte aliquid adolescentiae ipsius, remitte 
lacrymis, remitte indulgentiae tuae : ne torseris 
ilium, ne torseris etiam te. Torqueris enim, 



LIBER NONUS. 71 

quum tarn lenis irasceris. Vereor ne videar non 
rogare, sed cogere, si precibus ejus meas junxero. 
Jungam tamen tanto plenius et effusius, quanto 
ipsum acrius severiusque corripui, districte 
minatus, nunquam me postea rogaturum. Hoc 
illi, quem terreri oportebat, tibi non idem. Nam 
fortasse iterum rogabo, iterum impetrabo : sit 
modo tale, ut rogare me, prsestare te deceat. 
Vale. 

4. C. PLINIUS SABINIANO SUO S. 

Bene fecisti quod libertum, aliquando tibi 
carum, reducentibus epistolis meis in donium, in 
animum recepist.i. Juvabit hoc te : me certe 
juvat : primum, quod te talem video, ut in ira. 
regi possis : deinde quod tantum mihi tribuis, ut 
vel auctorilati meae pareas, vel precibus indul- 
geas. Igitur et laudo et gratias ago. Simul in 
posterum moneo, ut te erroribus tuorum, etsi 
non fuerit qui deprecetur, placabilem prsestes. 
Vale. 

5. C. TLINIUS GEMINIO SUO S. 

Laudas mihi, et frequenter praesens, et nunc 
per epistolas, Nonium tuum, quod sit liberalis in 



72 C. PLINII EPIST. 

quosdam : et ipse laudo, si tamen non in hos 
•solos. Volo enim eum qui sit vere liberalis, 
tribuere patriae, propinquis, affinibus, amicis, sed 
amicis dico pauperibus : non nt isti, qui iis po- 
tissimum donant, qui donare maxime possunt. 
Hos ego viscatis hamatisque muneribus, non sua 
promere puto, sed aliena corripere. Sunt inge- 
nio simili, qui quod huic donant, auferunt illi, 
fanamque liberalitatis avaritia petunt. Primum. 
est autem, suo esse contentum : deinde, quos 
praecipue scias indigere, sustentantem foventem- 
que, orbe quodam societatis arnbire. Quae 
cuncta si facit isle, usquequaque laudandus est; 
si unum aliquod, minus qtiidem, laudandus 
tamen. Tarn rarum est etiam imperfectae libe- 
ralitatis exemplar. Ea invasit homines habendi 
cupido, ut possideri magis quam possidere vide- 
antur. Vale. 



6. C. PLINIUS CANINIO SUO S. 

Incidi in materiam veram, sed simillimam 
fict33, dignamque isto lsetissimo, altissimo planeque 
poetico ingenia. Incidi autem, dum super ccEnam 
varia miracula hinc inde referuntur. Magna auc- 
toris fides; tametsi quid poetee cum fide? Is 



LIBER NONUS. 73 

tamen auctor, cui bene vel historiam scripturus 
credidisses. Est in Africa Hipponensis colonia, 
mari proxima : adjacet ei navigabile stagnum, ex 
quo, in modum fluminis, aestaarium emergit, quod 
vice alterna, prout aestus aut repressit, aut im- 
pulit, nunc infertur mari, nunc redditur stagno. 
Omnis hie aetas piscandi, navigandi, atque etiam 
natandi studio tenetur : maxime puerorum, quos 
otium ludusque solicitat. His gloria et virtus 
altissime provehi : victor ille qui longissime ut 
littus, ita simul nantes, reliquit. Hoc certaraine 
puer quidam, audentior caeteris, in ulteriora 
tendebat : delphinus occurrit, et nunc praecedere 
puerum, nunc sequi, nunc circuire, postremo 
subire, deponere, iterum subire, trepidantemque 
perferre primum in altum : mox flectit ad littus, 
redditque terrae et aequalibus. Serpit per colo- 
niam fama : concurrere omnes, ipsum puerum 
tanquam miraculum aspicere, interrogare, audire, 
narrare. Postero die obsident littus, prospectant 
mare, et si quid est mari simile. Natant pueri : 
inter hos ille, sed cautius. Delphinus rursus ad 
tempus, rursus ad puerum venit. Fugit ille 
cum ceteris. Delphinus, quasi invitet, revocet 9 
exilit, mergitur, variosque orbes implicitat expe- 
ditque. Hoc altero die, hoc tertio ; hoc pluribus ? 
6 * 



74 C. PLINII EPIST. 

donee homines innutritos mari subiret timendi 
pudor: accedunt, et alludunt, et appellant: 
tangunt etiam, pertrectantque prasbentem. Cre- 
scit aujdacia ex peri men to. Maxime puer, qui 
primus expeitus est, adnatat natanti, infilit tergo : 
fertur referturque : agnosci se, amari putat, 
amat ipse : neuter timet, neuter timetur. Hujus 
fiducia, mansuetudo illius augetur : nee non alii 
pueri dextra lgevaque simul eunt hortantes mo- 
nentesque. Ibat una (id quoque minim) delphi- 
nus alius, tantum spectator et comes. Nihil 
enim simile aut faciebat, aut patiebatur : sed 
alterum ilium ducebat, reducebat, ut puerum 
ceteri pueri. Incredibile (tarn verum tamen 
quam priora) delphinum gestatorem collusorem- 
que puerorem in terram quoque extrabi solitum, 
arenisque siccatum, ubi incaluisset, in mare 
revolvi. Constat Octavium Avitum, legatum 
proconsulis, in littus educto religione prava su- 
perfudisse unguentum, cujus ilium novitatem 
odoremque in altum refugisse ; nee nisi post 
multos dies visum languidum et moestum ; mox, 
redditis viribus, priorem lasciviam et solita inin- 
isteria repetisse. Confluebant ad spectaculum 
omnes magistratus, quorum adventu et mora 
modica respublica novis sumptibus atterebatur. 



LIBER NONUS. 75 

Postremo locus ipse quietem suam secretumque 
perdebat. Placuit occulte interfici, ad quod 
coibatur. Hsec tu qua miseratione, qua copia 
deflebis, ornabis, attolles? Quanquam non est 
opus affingas aliquid aut adstruas ; sufficit ne ea 
qua? sunt vera minuantur. Vale. 

7. C. PLINIUS FUSCO SUO S. 

Quseris quemadmodum in Tuscis diem asstate 
disponam. Evigilo quura libuit, plerumque 
circa horam primam, ssepe ante ; tardius raro : 
clause fenestras manent. Mire enim silentio et 
tenebris animus alitur. Ab iis quae avocant 
abductus, et liber, et mihi relictus, non oculos 
animo, sed animum oculis sequor, qui eadem 
quae mens, violent, quoties non vident alia. 
Cogito si quid in manibus, cogito ad verbum 
scribenti emendantique similis: nunc pauciora, 
nunc plura, ut vel difficile vel facile compo- 
ni tenerive potuerunt. Notarium voco, et, 
die admisso, quee formaveram dicto ; abit, rur- 
susque revocatur, rursusque remittitur. Ubi 
hora quarta vel quinta (neque enim certum 
dimensumque tempus) ut dies suasit, in xystum 
me vel cryptoporticum confero ; reliqua meditor 



76 C. PLINII EFIST. 

et dicto ; vehiculum ascendo. Ibi quoque idem 
quod ambulans aut jacens. Durat intentio, 
mutatione ipsa refecta : paulum redormio, dein 
ambulo, mox orationem Grsecam Latinamve 
clare et intente, non tam vocis causa quam 
stomachi, lego : pariter tamen et ilia firmatur. 
Iterum ambulo, ungor, exerceor, lavor. Coenanti 
mihi, si cum uxore, vel paucis, liber legitur : post 
coenam, comoedi aut lyristes: mox cum meis 
ambulo, quorum in numero sunt eruditi. Ita 
variis sermonibus vespera extenditur, et quan- 
quam longissimus dies, cito conditur. Nonnun- 
quam ex hoc ordine aliqua mutantur. Nam si 
diu tacui, vel ambulavi, post somnum demum 
lectionemque, non vehiculo, sed (quod brevius, 
quia velocius) equo gestor. Interveniunt amici 
ex proximis oppidis, partemque diei ad se tra- 
hunt, interdumque lassato mihi opportuna inter- 
pellatione subveniunt. Venor aliquando : sed 
non sine pugillaribus, ut quamvis nihil ceperim, 
nonnihil referam. Datur et colonis (ut videtur 
ipsis) non satis temporis, quorum mihi agrestes 
querela? literas nostras et isthaec urbana opera 
commendant. Vale. 



LIBER DECIMUS. 77 

8. C. PLINIUS FUSCO SUO S. 

Scribis, pergratas tibi fuisse literas meas, 
quihus cognovisti quemadmodum in Tuscis otium 
aEstatis exigerem : requiris quid ex hoc in Lau- 
rentino hyenie permulem. Nihil, nisi quod 
meridianus somnus eximitur, multumque de 
nocte vel ante vel post diem sumitur: et, si 
agendi necessitas instat, quae frequens hyeme, 
non jam como3do vel iyristse post cnenam locus; 
sed iila quae dictavi, identidem retractantur, ac 
simul memoriae frequenti emendatione proficitur. 
Habes aestate, hyeme consuetudinem ; addas 
hue licet ver et autumnum, quae inter hyemem 
aestatemque media, ut nihil de die perdunt, ita 
de nocte parvulum acquirunt. Vale. 



LIBER X. 

1. C. PLINIUS TR. IMP. S. 

Sicut saluberrimam navigationem, domine, 
usque Ephesum expertus, ita inde, postquam 
vehiculis iter facere ccepi, gravissimis sestibus, 



78 C. PLINII EPIST. 

atque etiam febriculis vexatus, Pergami substiti. 
Rursus, quum transisem in orarias naviculas, 
contrariis ventis retentus, aliquanto tardius quam 
speraveram, id est xv calend. Octobris, Bithyn- 
iam intravi. Non possum tamen de mora queri, 
cum mihi contigerit quod erat auspicatissimum, 
natalem tuum in provincial celebrare. Nunc 
reipub. Prusensium impendia, reditus, debitores 
excutio : quod ex ipso tractu magis ac magis 
necessarium intelligo. Multse enim pecuniae 
variis ex causis a privatis detinentur : preeterea 
quaedam minime legitimis sumptibus erogantur. 
Haec tibi, domine, in ipso ingressum meo scripsi. 
Quintodecimo calend. Octobris, domine, pro- 
vinciam intravi, quam in eo obsequio, in ea erga 
te fide, quam de genere humano mereris, inveni. 
Dispice, domine, an necessarium putes mittere 
hue mensorem. Videntur enim non mediocres 
pecuniae posse revocari a curationibus operura, 
si mensural fideliter agantur. Ita certe prospi- 
cio ex ratione Prusensium, quam cum Maximo 
tracto. 

2. TRAJANUS PLINIO S. 

Cuperem sine querela corpusculi tin, et tunrum, 
pervenire in Bithyniam potuisses, ac simile tibi 



LIBER DECIMUS. 79 

iter ah Epheso ei navigationifuisset, quam exper- 
tus usque illo eras. Quo autem die pervenisses 
in Bythiniam, cognovi, Secunde carissime, Uteris 
tuis. Provinciales (credo) prospectum sibi a 
me, intelligent. Nam et tu dabis operam, ut 
manifesium sit Mis, electum te esse, qui ad eos~ 
dem mei loco mittereris. Rationes autem im- 
primis tibi rerum publicarum excutiendce sunt. 
Nam et esse eas vexatas satis constat. Mensores 
vix etiam Us operibus, qua aut Romce, aut in 
proximo Jiunt, sufficientes habeo : sed in omni 
provincid inveniuntur, quibus credi possit, et ideo 
non deerunt tibi, modo velis diligenter excutere. 

3. C. PLINIUS TR. IMP. S. 

Q,uum diversam partem provincial circumirem, 
NicomediaB vastissimum incendium multas priva- 
torum domos, et duo publica opera, quanquam 
via interjacente, Gerusiam et Isson absumpsit. 
Est autem latius sparsum : primum violentia 
venti, deinde inertia hominum, quod satis con- 
stat otiosos et immobiles tanti mali spectatores 
perstitisse : et alioqui nullus usquam in publico 
sipho, nulla hama, nullum denique instrumentum 
ad incendia compescenda : et haec quidem, ut 



80 C. PL1NII EPIST. 

jam praecepi, parabuntur. Tu domine, dispice, 
instituendum putes collegium fabrorum, dantaxat 
hominum CL: ego attendam ne quis, nisi faber, 
recipiatur, neve jure concesso in aliud utatur. 
Nee erit difficile custodire tarn paucos. 

4. TRAJANUS PLINIO S. 

Tibi quidem secundum exempla complurium, 
in mentem venit, posse collegium fabrorum apud 
Nicomedenses constit li : sed meminerimus, pro- 
vincian islam, el prcetipue eas civitatcs, ab 
ejasmodif actio nibus esse vexatas. Quodcunque 
nomen ex qudcunque causa dedcrimus iis qui in 
idem contracti fuerint, hclarice quamvls breves 
jient. Satins itaque est comparari ea quae ad 
co'ercendos ignes auxilio esse possint, a dm oner i- 
que dominos prcediorum, ut et ipsi inkibeant, ac 
si res poposcerit, accursu populi ad hoc uti. 

5. C. PLINIUS TR. IMP. S. 

In aquseductum, domine, Nicomedenses im- 
penderunt HS. xxx. ccc. xxix. qui imperfectus 
adhuc relictus, ac etiam destructus est : rursus 
in alium duct urn erogata sunt cc. Hoc quo- 



LIBER DECIMUS. 81 

que relicto, novo impendio est opus, ut aquam 
habeant qui tantam pecuniam male perdiderunt. 
Ipse perveni ad fontem purissimum, ex quo 
videtur aqua debere perduci, sicut initio tenta- 
tum erat, arcuato opere, ne tantum ad plana 
civitatis et humilia perveniat. Manent adhuc 
paucissimi arcus : possunt et erigi quidam lapide 
quadrato, qui ex superiore opere detractus est : 
aliqua pars, ut mihi videtur, testaceo opere 
agenda erit. Id enim et facilius et vilius. Et 
imprimis necessarium est, mitti a te vel aquile- 
gem vel architectum, ne rursus eveniat quod 
accidit. Ego illud unum affirmo, et utilitatem 
operis et pulchritudinem seculo tuo esse dignissi- 
mam. 

6. TR. PLINIO S. 

Curandum est, ut aqua in Nicomedensem civi- 
tatem pcrducatur. Vcre credo te ed qua debebis 
diUgenlia hoc opus aggressurum. Scd, medius 
jidius, ad eandcm diligentiam tuam periinet, in- 
quirere quorum vitio ad hoc opus tantam pecu- 
niam Nicomedenses perdiderint, ne quum inter 
se gratificantur, et inchoaverint aqu&ductus, et 
reliquerint. Quid itaque compereris, perfer in 
notitiam meam. 
7 



82 C. PLIN1I EPIST. 

7. C. PLINIUS TR. IMP. S. 

Intuenti mihi et fortune tuse et animi magnitu- 
dinem, convenientissimum videtur, demonstrare 
opera non minus seternitate tua quam gloria 
digna, quantumque pulchritudinis, tantum utilita- 
tis habitura. Est in Nicomedensium finibus 
amplissimus lacus ; per hunc marmora, fructus, 
ligna, materise, et sumptu modico et labore 
usque ad viam navibus, inde magno labore, 
majore impendio, vehiculis ad mare devehuntur. 
Sed hoc opus multas manus poscit : at hae porro 
non desunt. Nam et in agris magna copia est 
hominum, et maxima in civitate : certaque spes 
omnes libentissime agressuros opus omnibus 
fructuosum. Superest ut tu libratoreim vel 
architectum, si tibi videbitur, mittas, qui dili- 
genter exploret sitne lacus altior mari, quem 
artifices regionis hujus quadraginta cubitis alti- 
orem esse contendunt. Ego per eadem loca 
invenio fossam a rege percussarn : sed incertum 
utrum ad colligendum humorem circumjacentium 
agrorum, an ad committendum flumini lacum; 
est enim imperfecta. Hoc quoque dubium, in- 
tercepto rege mortal itate, an desperato operis 
effects Sed hoc ipso (feres enim me ambitio- 



LIBER DECIMUS. 83 

sum) pro tua gloria incitor et accendor, ut 
cupiam peragi a te quae tantum cceperant reges. 

8. TKAJANUS PLINIG S. 

Potest nos solicitare lacus iste ut committer e 
ilium marl velimus : sed plane cxplorandum est 
diligenter, ne, si immissus in mare fuerit, totus 
cffiuat. Certe, quantum aquarum, et unde ac- 
cipiat. Poteris a Calphurnio Macro petere 
Libratorem. Et ego Jiinc aliquem tibi, peritum 
ejusmodi operum, mittam. 

9. C. PLINIUS TR. IMP. S. 

Pecuniae publicae, domine, providentia tua et 
rninisterio nostro etiam exactae sunt et exiguntur : 
quae vereor ne otiosse jaceant. Nam et praedio- 
rum comparandorum aut nulla aut rarissima 
occasio est : nee inveniuntur qui velint debere, 
reipub praesertim duodenis assibus, quanti a 
privatis mutuantur. Dispice ergo, domine, num- 
quid minuendam usuram, ac per hoc idoneos 
debitores invitandos, putes : et, si ne sic quidem 
reperiuntur, distribuendam inter decuriones pe- 
cuniam, ita ut recte reipublicae caveant : quod ? 



84 C. PL1NI1 EPIST. 

quanquam invitis et recusantibus, minus acer- 
bum erit, leviore usura constituta. 



10. tr. plinio s. 

Et ipse non aliud remedium dispicio, mi Se- 
cimde carissi?ne, qudm ut quantitas iisurarum 
minuatur, quo facilius pecunicB publiccs col- 
locentur. Modum ejus ex copid eorum qui mutu- 
abuntur tu constituts. Invitos ad accipiendam 
compellere, quodfortassis ipsis otiosum futurum 
sit, non est exjustitid nostrurum temporum. 

11. C. PLINIUS TR. IMP. S. 

Tu quidem, domine providentissime, vereris 
ne commissus flumini, atque ita mari, lacus 
effluat : sed ego in re prsesenti invenisse videor 
quemadmodum huic periculo occurrerem. Potest 
enim lacus fossa usque ad flumen adduci, nee 
tamen in flumen emitti, sed relicto quasi margine 
contineri pariter et dirimi: sic consequemur ut 
nee vicino videatur flumini mistus, et sit periude 
ac si misceatur. Erit enim facile per illam 
brevissimam terram, quae interjacebit, onera 
transponere in flumen. Quod ita fiet, si neces- 



LIBER DECIMUS. 85 

sitas coget, et (spero) non coget. Est enim et 
lacus ipse satis altus, et nunc in contrariam 
partem flumen emittit ; quod interclusum inde, 
et quo voluraus aversum, sine ullius detrimento- 
lacus tantum aquae, quantum nunc portat, effun, 
det. Prseterea per id spatium, per quod fossa 
facienda est, incidunt rivi : qui si diligenter 
colligantur, augebunt illud quod lacus dederit. 
Enimvero si placeat fossam longius ducere, et 
arctius pressam mari sequare, nee in flumen, 
sed in ipsum mare emittere, repercussus maris 
servabit et reprimet quicquid e lacu veniet. 
Quorum si nihil nobis loci natura prsEstaret, 
expeditum tamen erat, cataractis aquas cursum 
temperare. Vermn et hsec et alia multo saga- 
cius conquiret explorabitque librator, quem plane, 
domine, debes mittere, ut polliceris. Est enim 
res digna et magnitudine tua. et cura. Ego 
interim Calphurnio Macro, clarissimo viro, auc- 
tore te scripsi, ut libratorem quam maxime 
idoneum mitteret. 



12. tr. plinio s. 

Manifestum est, mi Securde carissime, nee 
prudentiam nee diligentiam tihi defuisse circa 

7 * 



£6 C. PLINII EPIST. 

istum lacum, cum tarn muTta proviso, habeas, per 
qua nee periclitetur exhaiiriri, ct magis in usus 
nobis futurus sit. Elige igitur id quod prce- 
cipue res ipsa suaserit. CaJjphurnium Macrum 
credo facturnm, ut te Ubratore instruat : neque 
enim provincicB istcc Jus artificibus carent. 



13. C PLINIUS TR. IMP. S. 

Sinopenses, domine, aqua deficiuntur : quae 
videtur et bona et copiosa ab sextodecimo milia- 
ria posse perduci. Est tamen statim ab capite 
paulo amplius mille passibus locus suspectus et 
mollis, quern ego interim explorari modico im- 
pendio jussi, an recipere et sustinere opus possit. 
Pecunia, curantibus nobis, contracta, non deerit, 
si tu, domine, hoc genus oporis et salubritati et 
amoenitati valde sitientis colonice indulseris. 



14. TR. plinio s. 

Ut ccepisti } Secundc carissi?ne, cxplora diligcn- 
ter f an locus UIc, quern suspectum habes, sustinere 
opus aquceductus possit. JYcqnc enim dubitan- 



LIBER DECIMUS. 87 

dumputo,quin aqua perducenda sit in cohniam 
Sinopensem, si modd et viribus suis ipsa id 
assequi potest, cum plurammn ea res et salubri- 
tati et voluptaii ejus collatura sit. 



]VOTES. 



*** The Roman characters refer to pages, the Arabic figures to 
lines. 

ix. I. C. Plinii] Caius Plinius Caecilius Se= 
cundus, commonly called the younger Pliny, in 
distinction from his uncle the naturalist, was 
born in the year 62, at Cornum, now Corno, a 
town about twenty-five miles noith of Milan, on 
a picturesque lake called Larius, now the lake 
of Corno. He owed his education in part to 
the celebrated Quinctilian, whom, in gratitude 
for his attentions, he remembered and assisted 
in his old age. Before the age of eighteen, 
he entered the army, and served as military 
tribune in Syria. Soon after, he turned his 
attention to pleading as a profession, and at 
twenty, commenced practising at the bar. Hav- 
ing passed about six years in the practice of his 
profession with great credit, he was made questor, 
then tribune of the people, and finally praetor, 



90 NOTES. 

to which last office he was appointed before the 
legal age. Pliny was spared in the persecution 
which Domitian carried on against all who were 
eminent for merit or learning, and after his 
death, vindicated the memory of Helvidius, who 
had been in the number of his victims. In the 
year 97, he married Calpurnia with whom he 
lived very affectionately and whose excellent 
qualities he often mentions in his letters. Soon 
after, he was appointed by Nerva prefect of the 
treasury, an office which he held two years. 
Under Trajan he was promoted to the honor of 
the consulship, and was afterward sent by this 
emperor proconsul to Bithynia in Asia Minor. 
It was from this province that he wrote, in the 
year 102, his celebrated letter respecting the 
Christians, which induced Trajan to mitigate 
the persecution which was carried on against 
them. While in this office he mainly employed 
himself in projecting various public works for 
the benefit of the province. Neither the year 
nor the place of Pliny's death is known, but as 
nothing of his appears later than 107, it is most 
probable that he died in this year, the 45th of 
his age. 

These letters then would seem to have been 
written between the years 80 and 107 of the 
Christian era. They bear no particular dates, 
and the time at which each was composed must 
be gathered from the subject matter itself. A 
table of the emperors under whom Pliny wrote, 
and of their periods of office, is subjoined. 



NOTES- 91 

The whole number of letters collected by the 
author himself was 369, which are divided into 
ten books, the last being wholly devoted to the 
correspondence between him and the emperor 
Trajan. 

Vespasian Imp. A. D. 69 to 79 

Titus " " 79 to 81 

Domitian " " 81 to 96 

Nerva " " 96 to 98 

Trajan " " 98 to 107 



BOOK I.— Letter 1. 

Pliny dedicates this collection of letters to his 
friend Septitius. 

6. C. Plin.] Caius Plinius Septitio amico 
suo salutem dat. This was the usual mode of 
commencing an epistle, and signifies that the 
writer desires health, or presents his best wishes 
to his friend. 

7. Frequenter'] " You have often urged me, 
that I should collect and publish my letters, if I 
had written some more accurately than the rest." 
Or " such of my letters as I had written more 
accurately." 



92 NOTES. 

9. noil] " not preserving the order of time, 
for I was not writing a history, but according 
as," &c. 

11. Supercsf] "It remains to wish that it 
may not repent you of your advice nor me of 
my compliance." 

13. ut] "that I shall look up those, which 
still lie neglected, and if I shall add any I will 
not suppress them. Farewell." 



Letter 2. 

Describing the vanity of the pursuits which 
for the most part occupy the attention in the 
city, compared with the more dignified employ- 
ments of the country. 

17. quam] " how for single days the account 
of time passed in town holds good or seems to 
do so, but for several days or all of them together 
does not." 

x. 2. respondeat] " he will perhaps answer, 
'I was present' at ceremony of the toga virilis; 
I assisted at an espousal or a wedding." All 
these were occasions of great interest The 
espousal of two parties usually took place some 
time before the celebration of the actual mar- 
riage. It was accompanied with many cere- 
monies, at which the priests and augurs assisted : 
the marriage contract was drawn up in the 
presence of witnesses, and confirmed by the 
betrothed pair breaking a straw between them ; 



NOTES. 93 

the bridegroom then presented the bride with 
the wedding ring; presents were made to the 
young couple by their immediate friends who 
were present on the occasion ; and the father, or 
nearest relative of the bride — at whose house the 
ceremony usually took place— gave a grand en- 
tertainment. 

The investiture of the toga virilis or manly gown 
which took place at seventeen years of age, was, 
in families of rank, a ceremony of great solem- 
nity as well as festivity. The friends and rel- 
atives of the youth being assembled on the 
occasion, he was stripped of the prsetextan robe, 
and the golden ball which ornamented the latter 
was consecrated to the lares, or household .gods. 
He was then clothed in a toga of pure white, 
without ornament, and conducted by the whole 
company followed by the servants and retainers 
of his house and near connections, to the cap- 
ital, where prayers and sacrifices were offered to 
the gods. Thence he was taken with the same 
parade to the forum, to make his public entry 
into the world on that, spot where probably the 
most important scenes of his future life were to 
be acted. After this the day was concluded 
with a feast to which the dependents of the 
family were admitted, and presents were distrib- 
uted among the guests." — Domestic Manners 
and Institutions of the Romans. Chap. xv. and 
xvii. 

6. H(ec] " These things, on the day you do 
them, seem necessary ; but the same, if you con- 



94 NOTES. 

sider that you have been doing them daily, ap- 
pear trivial, and especially so when you have 
withdrawn from them." 

10. Quod] " This is what happens to me, 
when in my Laurentian estate I read or write 
something or even attend to my person by the 
support of which the mind is sustained." Lau- 
rentino agrees with prsedio understood. 

13. quod] " which I am sorry to have heard." 

14. apud me] at my house. 

20. ac] " and more delightful than almost 
any employment." 

22. qucim] " how many thoughts do you in- 
vent, how many do you suggest." 

26. Satius] " For it is better — to be idle 
than to be busy about nothing." 



Letter 3. 

He reproaches Septitius with having broken his 
engagement to come to dinner, and enumerates 
the delicacies which were prepared for his re- 
ception. 

xi. 4. promittis] you promise to come to 
dinner and come not." The Roman ccena, 
often improperly rendered supper, was taken at 
about 3 o'clock. 

5. Dicitur] " The sentence is passed; you 
shall pay the expense to a farthing, and that not 
small." 



NOTES. 95* 

6. singula] "one for each;" so binae "two 
for each;" ternse "three for each." 

8. nam] "for this too you shall account for; 
nay this especially, which perishes in the dish." 

12. qua] " such is my liberality." 

12. At] " Bat you have chosen at somebody's 
house, I know not whom, to he treated with 
oysters, urchins and Spanish dancers." The 
latter as well as the graver personages with 
whom Pliny had proposed to entertain his guest 
were commonly introduced at Roman dinners. 

15. invidisti] "you have wronged, whether 
yourself I know not, certainly me, but yet your- 
self also," 

17. apparatius] " more luxuriously" this and 
the last three words in the sentence are the 
comparatives of adverbs. 

19. In snmmd] "In fine, make the trial; 
and unless you shall afterwards rather excuse 
yourself to all others, then always refuse me." 



BOOK II. — Letter 1. 

He describes the mixture of ostentation and 
meanness displayed by an acquaintance with 
whom he had dined. 

xii. 3. Longum] "It is too long to recount 
fully, and it matters not how it happened, that 



96 NOTES. 

I, though by no means a familiar friend, was 
dining with a person liberal and thrifty, as he 
seemed to himself; as he appeared to me, both 
extravagant and mean." 

7. optima] " some of the best dishes." 

9. Vinum] " He had also divided the wine 
contained in small bottles, into three kinds; not 
that there might be the privilege of choosing, 
but that there might be no right of refusing the 
particular kind offered." 

8. aliiid] " placed one hind for us, another 
for his smaller friends, (for he has friends in 
grades,) another for his own and our freed men." 
The freedman was a manumitted slave who re- 
mained in the family of his late master in the 
character of a client or dependent, and bore his 
name as a prefix to his own. 

See there that Dama ! view a worthless slave, 
Of knavish muleteers the veriest knave! 
Let but his master one small turn bestow, 
Plain Dama, straight, shall Marcus Dama grow. 

Owen's Persius. Lat. v. 

13. Animadvertit] "He who reclined next 
to me observed this, and asked me if I approved 
it." I said no. " What custom, then," said he, 
"do you adopt? " " I place the same dishes he- 
fore all. For I invite them to a supper, not to 
a register; and i make equal in all things, those 
whom I have made equal at my table and my 
couch." "The freedmen too ? " " Those too. 



NOTES. 97 

For then I hold them guests, not freedmen." 
He replies, "It must cost you a great sum." 
" By no means." " How can this be managed 1 " 
" It can ; because my freedmen do not drink 
the same as I do, but I the same, as my freed- 
men." 

xin. 1. Ilia] se gula. "This then must be 
restrained, this must be reduced to order as it 
were, if you would save expense, which you can 
better provide for' by your own temperance, than 
by degrading others." 

5. Quorsum] To what purpose do I say 
these things. 

11. quce~\ "which as they are very base when 
separate, are more basely joined ;" "are more 
disgraceful when united." 



Letter 2. 

Lamenting that he is prevented by his engage- 
ments in town from enjoying with his friends 
the beauty of Lake Larius. 

17. Nam] " For the lake supplies fish, the 
woods with which the lake is surrounded, game, 
and that deep retreat, subjects of meditation in 
abundance." 

19. Sed] " But whether you do all together, 
or some one, I cannot say, I envy you ; yet I am 
vexed, that those things are not permitted to me, 
too, which I desire as sick men do wine, baths, 
fountains." 



98 NOTES. 

23. Nunquamne] " Shall I never break these 
close fetters of business, if it is denied to me to 
loosen them ? " 

24. Nam] "For to the old employments 
new ones are added, yet the former are not fin- 
ished ; by so many coils, by so many chains, 
as it were, is the line of occupations daily ex- 
tended." 



Letter 3. 

He relates three anecdotes of Marcus Regu- 
lus, intended to exhibit the meanness of his 
character. 

xiv. 6. As sew] " Prepare your penny, and 
hear a fine story." The expression seems to be 
borrowed from those who exercised the art of 
story telling as a profession. 

7. Nam~\ " For the new one reminds me of 
some former ones ; nor does it matter, from 
which I commence in preference." 

8. Verania] " V. Piso's wife lay very ill ; 
I mean that Piso," &c. 

11. Primum] " First notice the impudence 
of the man, who came to a sick woman, to 
whose husband, and to whose self, he had been 
a violent personal enemy." 

13. Esto] " Let it pass, if he had only 
come." 

17. nihil] "for no purpose, except that he 
may keep her miserable the longer in suspense." 



NOTES. 99 

19. Climactericum] The climacteric periods 
were considered peculiarly dangerous. Those 
usually so accounted were the years expressed 
by the successive multiples of 7. The grand 
climacteric was the 63d year, or 9 times 7. 

20. Aruspicem] "I will consult a sooth- 
sayer.'/ The aruspices were inferior to the 
augurs and foretold future events by remarks 
on the palpitating entrails of newly slaughtered 
victims, and the circumstances attending sacri- 
lices. 

24. legatum] "inscribes a legacy for Regu- 
lus." 

xv. 2. qui] " who had foresworn himself by 
the safety of his sou." It was the custom to 
swear by whatever was regarded as most pre- 
cious. 

7. novissimd] " with his last illness." 

10. quia] "because he had lately begun to 
court him." 

11. quoquo] "that by any means they should 
prolong life to this man." 

14. quid] " why do you deny a happy death 
to one, to whom you cannot give life ? " 

16. et] " and as if he had heard all, left not a 
farthing to Regulus." 

17. an] "Do you ask for a third according 
to the law of the schools," or " according to the 
old saying." 

23. Rcgo] " I beg you would bequeath these 
to me" leges from lego. 

xvi. 1. ilk] " still he compelled her to do this 
as if about to die." 



] 00 NOTES. 

8. quum] "that when he consulted the aus* 
pices, how soon he should make up sixty mil- 
lion sesterces, he had found the entrails double, 
by which it was foretold that he should have an 
hundred and twenty million. 5 ' For it is said by 
authorities that between the numeral adverbs 
and sestertium the contracted genitive plural of 
sestertius, the words centena millia must be sup- 
plied ; so that the first on the above expressions, 
when read in full, will be six hundred hundred 
thousand sesterces, and the second twelve hun- 
dred hundred thousand. 

11. si] "if he shall still dictate, as he has 
begun to do, wills in favor of strangers, to the 
very persons, to whom they belong ; which is 
the most iniquitous kind of deception." 



BOOK III.— Letter 1. 

Contains an account of the numerous works 
of Pliny the naturalist, and describes particularly 
his mode of life. 

19. guarasque] " and ask, what they all are." 

19. Fungar] " I will perform the part of an 
index." 

De] "one book on throwing the javelin on 
horseback." 

xvn. 10. Adstitit] " Stood before him as he 
slept." 



NOTES. 101 

13. id] " that he would save him from the 
injustice of being forgotten." 

14. Studiosi] " Three books called studiosi." 

16. Dubii] " Eight books on the subject of 
equivocal expression." 

20. A fine] " Thirty-one books from the 
end of the work of Aufidis Bassus." 

23. Miraris] " Do you wonder that one so 
much occupied could have written so many 
volumes, and many among them requiring so 
much care? " 

xvin. 2. Medium] " that, he passed the mean 
time filled and embarrassed both by very impor- 
tant duties, and by the friendship of the prince." 

5. Eral] he was indeed remarkable for very 
easy sleep, often commencing and again leaving 
him during his studies. 

17. Post] " After taking the sun he gener- 
ally bathed in cold water." 

21. adnotabatur] "notes were taken, and 
that rapidly." 

23. revocdsse] " called him back and ordered 
the passage to be repeated." 

xix. 3. intra] " within the first hour of 
night." The night or the interval between sun- 
set and sunrise was divided into twelve hours 
which differed in length according to the season. 

6. gimm] " when I say of the bath, [ speak 
only of the processes carried on within." 

7. duni] " while he is rubbed and wiped." 
Destringo signifies to scrape with the strigil, a 
sort of currycomb employed by the attendants at 
the baths." 



102 NOTES. 

9. 7iuic] " he found time for this care only." 

10. not arms] " a notary with book and tab- 
lets." The notary, or scribe, copied in short 
hand from dictation. Their skill in this pro- 
cess was such, that it is said some of them could 
outstrip the most rapid speaker. 

14. Repcto] " I remember that I was blamed 
by him for walking." 

24. quadringentis] for four hundred thousand 
sesterces, about fourteen thousand dollars. 

xx. 3. Quid] " For what is there, which 
those occupations could not prevent, or this in- 
dustry accomplish." 

8. Ego] "But am I only not to be compared 
to him, I whom," &c. 

10. Collatus] " when compared to him." 

12. quamvis] "although I had intended to 
write only what you asked, namely how many 
books he had left." 



Letter 2. 

The subject of this letter is Arria, the wife of 
Soetus, celebrated for her heroism in inflicting a 
mortal wound on her own person, and then 
presenting the bloody sword to her husband, 
encouraging him to follow her example. Pliny 
endeavors to show that there were other actions 
in her life equally deserving admiration, though 
less generally known. 



iNOTES. 103 

20. adnotdsse] " I seem to have observed," 
*' I think I have noticed, that some actions of 
distinguished men or women are more famous 
but others greater." 

22. hesterno] " by a conversation yesterday 
with Fannia." 

xxt. 7. non] "not less dear on other accounts, 
than because he was their son." 

10. vivere] " she pretended that her son lived 
and was even more comfortable." 

17. tanquam] " as if she had left her bereave- 
ment abroad." 

18. Mud] "that other action of hers." 
25. matrefn] " still to act the mother." 
xxn. 1. in] " in his party." 

3. ut] " that she might be placed there with 
him." 

4. Nempe] " for certainly you will give a con- 
sular man." Consulaus signifies one who had 
been consul. 

7. omnia] " 1 will perform all these offices 
alone." 

9. Eadem] " She said before Claudius to 
the wife of tScribonianus, when she offered her 
evidence." 

16. Tu] " would you then wish your daugh- 
ter, if it shall be my fate to perish, to die with 
me?" 

21. Sensit] " she perceived it and said, you 
do no good by your precautions ; for you can 
cause that I shall die miserably ; that I shall not 
die, you cannot." 



104 NOTES. 

25. et] " and fell. When revived, I told you, 
said she, that I should find a way, however hard, 
to death, if you denied me an easy one." 

xxiii. 1. Videiiturne] "Do not these seem 
more sublime than that expression, Soetus, it 
hurts me not, to which she arrived through 
these;" though meanwhile a great reputation 
encircles that ; these, none whatever. " Whence 
that may be inferred which I said at the outset, 
that some things are more renowned, others 
greater." 



Letter 3. 

Death and character of the poet Martial. 

Martialem] Martial was born at Bilbilis 
riow Baubola, in Spain, and died in his native 
country, A. D. 1C4, in the 75th year of his age. 

10. salts] " of salt and gall," wit and satire. 

11. prosecutus] "I had furnished him with 
support while in retirement." 

14. jFi/it] " It belonged to ancient custom." 

17. ut] " Like other elegant and excellent 
customs." 

18. Nam] " For since we ceased to do 
praiseworthy acts, we also consider it unfit to be 
praised." 

20. quibus] " for which I rendered this mark 
of gratitude." 

21. nisi] " unless I had some of the verses." 



NOTES. 105 

22. ceteros] "will look for the rest in the 
book." 

xxiv. 1. Esquiliis] " at Esquiliae " ; a quarter 
of the city so called, from the Esquiline hill. 

3. Sed] " But beware, lest, intoxicated, you 
knock at his learned door at an improper time." 

6. centum virorum~\ "of the centum viri," 
that is of the court. The centum viri were a sort 
of justices, at first 100, afterwards 180 in num- 
ber. In ordinary cases one or more of the 
number chosen mutually by the parties or by the 
praetor, decided the question ; but in those of 
great importance, one-fourth, and sometimes the 
whole body, sat in judgment, presided over by 
that magistrate. 

8. Arpinis] "to the writings of Arpinum." 
This village, now called Arpino, was the birth- 
place of Cicero; to whom as well as to Pliny, 
the poet here pays an elegant compliment, the 
justice of which posterity has not failed to con- 
firm. 

13. Merit one] "Did I not justly then dis- 
miss with kindness, and do I not justly mourn 
now, as a dear friend, him who," &c. 

18. At] " But you toill say, what he has 
written will not be immortal." 



106 



BOOK IV.— Letter 1. 

He requests Tacitus to assist him in finding 
instructors for a new school which he had founded 
in his native village of Corno. 

xxv. 3. Venisti] " you have come now, if 
ever, especially welcome to me." 

8. jam"] " now near its conclusion." 

10. ne] " that nothing may be lost to my 
despatch." 

15. municzpis] " a son of my townsman under 
17 years of age ; " for at this age the pretexta 
was laid aside. 

15. Huic] I said to him " you are studying." 
He answered " Yes." " Where? " " At Milan." 

20. ?iam] "For it is very much your interest, 
you who are," &c. For the grammatical con- 
struction, see Adam's Grammar, Rule 57, 
obs. 4. 

xxvi. 1. quantulum] how trifling an effort 
would it be. 

2. quodq] " and to contribute to his main- 
tenance what you now expend on their board, 
their travelling expenses, and other things which 
are purchased abroad, since all things are thus 
purchased." 

7. tertiam] " to give a third part of that sum, 
which you shall think proper to raise." 

9. ne hoc] " lest this gift of mine should be 
hereafter perverted by favoritism or intrigue." 



NOTES. 107 

12. Huic] " This abuse can be met by only 
one remedy." 

14. iisdem] " and the solemn duty of choosing 
will be imposed on them by the necessity of rais- 
ing the funds." 

17. dabuntq] " and will take care that none 
but a worthy man shall receive money from me, 
if he must receive it at the same time from 
them." 

20. qui] " since I desire that to be as large 
as possible which I shall be obliged to con- 
tribute." See Grammar, lvii. 4. 

22. •prcRstare] " furnish." 

xxvii. 3. Hcec] " I thought it proper to count 
these things thoroughly, and as it were from the 
source." 

6. ut] " that out of the number of scholars." 

9. sub] " under this condition however, that 
I do not engage my promise to any." 

14. eat] (( he may go thither with this proviso 
that he carries nothing on which he can depend, 
except this confidence in Ms own merit." 

Letter 2. 

He engages his services in the defence of 
Corellia, and recounts various acts of friendship 
for which he had been indebted to her father. 

23. est] " I have indeed with him, against 
whom you engage me as advocate, a not very 
familiar, but still a friendship/' 



108 NOTES. 

xxvm. 1. Acczdit] " To this consideration 
is added the dignity of the man, and this very 
honor for which he is destined ; of which the 
greater respect is to be had by me, inasmuch 
as I hare already enjoyed it." The plural form 
is here used for the singular. 

6. Sed] " But all these considerations seem 
cold and empty to me, recollecting that I shall 
assist the daughter of Corellia. 

10. quern] " whom I, when I had begun to 
seek him from admiration, contrary to what 
usually happens, admired still more, after I knew 
him intimately." 

13. nihil] " he "kept nothing secret." 

16. vt] " as to one of the same age." 

20. in inchoandis] sc. honoribus. " in enter- 
ing on the duties of office," 

20. in omnibus] " on all occasions pertaining 
to my interests." 

22. Quantum'] " How much did he con- 
tribute to my reputation." 

deinde] "then with that solemnity which you 
remember." 

xxix. 3. parcius] " that I should praise Se- 
cundus sparingly." 

5. Qua] " By which expression he attrib- 
uted to me a merit, which it would have been 
unreasonable even to have asked for." 

1 1. Quod] " when I remember this, I feel that 
I must exert myself, lest I seem in any respect 
to have belied the confidence of so prudent a 
person." 



NOTES. 109 

15. quanquam] arrange thus : " quanquam ar- 
bitror me consequuturum esse non solum veniam, 
sed etiam laudem, apud istum ipsum, a quo, ut 
ais, nova lis fortasse, ut feminae, intendetur, si 
contigerit rnihi dicere haec eadem in actione, 
latius scilicet et uberius quam angustiae episto- 
larum sinunt, vel in meam excusationem vel 
etiam in meam commendationem." " Though 
I think I shall obtain not only forgiveness, but 
even honor, in the sight of him by whom, as you 
say, a new kind of action is brought, as being 
against a woman, if it shall happen to me to say 
those same things," &c. Some peculiar privi- 
leges were granted to matrons by the Romao 
law. 



Letter 3. 

The principal subject of this letter is a discus- 
sion which took place in the Senate, in conse- 
quence of the authority assumed by Trebonius 
Rufinus to forbid the continuance of a gymnic 
contest in Vienna, where it had been celebrated 
for many years. 

24. ihterfui] " I was lately present at a 
court held by our excellent prince, being one of 
his counsellors." 

xxx. 1. ex] " according to the bequest of 
some individual." The town of Vienna now 
9* 



j 10 NOTES. 

called Vienne, is situated on the Loire in 
France. 

3. in] " in his duumvirate." The duumvirs 
were provincial magistrates with joint" authority. 

6. Commendabat] " This circumstance re- 
commended his cause, that, 55 &c. 

8. Quum] " when the opinions of the judges 
were called for. 55 

11. agona] Greek accusative. 

14. Idem.] sc. loquebatur. 

16. Vcjento] " V. was next, and even reclined 
on his breast.' 5 Each inclinium or sofa accom- 
modated three persons, each of whom leaned on 
his left elbow, and used his right hand in con- 
veying the food to his mouth. In this arrange- 
ment the head of one came in front of the breast 
of the one above him. The character of Ve- 
jento was infamous as that of a flatterer of the 
great, and an informer against innocent persons. 

21. Sccpius] " He was often hurled by 
Domitian against the best men in the community, 
just as missiles are thrown without themselves 
seeing or intending the blow." 

26. quid] " what can we suppose this man 
would now suffer if he were alive?" "He 
would be dining with us," answered Mauricus. 

xxxi. 2. longius] I have digressed far, but 
not undesignedly. 

3. ut] " as this of ours does the manners of 
all." 



NOTES. HI 

Letter 4. 

Describes a singular phenomenon exhibited 
by a spring at Corno. 

13. Hujus] " The nature of this is remarka- 
ble : for thrice in a day, it rises and falls by reg- 
ular increase and diminution." 

18. interim] " meanwhile it is diminished or 
increased by certain regular and measured 
amounts." 

21. ac] " and at last is covered." 

xxxii. 1. Spiritusne] Pliny here proposes 
five explanations, with neither of which he seems 
entirely satisfied, arid which in truth are not 
very satisfactory. The first is that the water 
may be acted on by some air or gas, like the 
fluid struggling to escape from a narrow mouthed 
bottle. The second refers it to the same cause 
which produces the ebb and flow of the sea. 
The third to some cause acting as the wind does 
on the motion of rivers. The fourth to some 
other spring which feeds it when full, but at in- 
tervals withholds its supplies. The fifth to some 
balancing or alternating source which fills it by 
emptying and exhausts it when itself fills. Simi- 
lar springs to that here described are not uncom- 
mon. That at Corno still exists, to excite the 
curiosity and exercise the philosophy of travel- 
lers. 

3. prout] " according as it is thrown in or 
driven out." 



112 NOTES. 

5. quibus] " to which the exit is not wide or 
at once open." 

6. Nam] u For these too, though prone and 
inclined downwards, by the obstacles of the re- 
sisting air, check what they pour forth, as it 
were, with frequent sobs." 

10. quaq] " and by whatever means that is 
impelled or reabsorbed, by the same means is 
this small body of water alternately suppressed 
and supplied? " 

14. retorquentur] " are forced back." 
16. An latentibus] "or is there a certain 
measure only in some secret veins, which while 
it collects what it had lost, the stream flows less 
and slower ; and when it has collected it bursts 
forth full and rapid " 1 

19. libr anient wn\ " balancing force." 
21. quum] il when it is filled, obstructs and 
checks it." 



BOOK V.— Letter 1. 

Narrative of the circumstances under which 
a legacy had been left him by Curianus. 

xxxiii. 3. AmpUssimu] " More agreeable 
than the largest." 



NOTES. 113 

9. Segue] " and aid him by setting this ex- 
ample to the co-heirs: and promised that the 
amount should be returned to me under a private 
contract." 

11. nori\ " that it did not suit my character." 

13. prmterca] " besides, that it was not very 
reputable to give to one both rich and childless," 
since he would be suspected of having an eye 
to the inheritance. 

14. in summd] " in fine that it would not 
profit him for me to give ; but that it would do 
so if I should yield my claim ; that I was pre- 
pared to do this, if it could appear plain to me 
that he was unjustly disinherited." 

18. Rogo] " I beg you to examine the case." 

21. non] "that firmness will not be wanting 
to me, if my honest belief should so lead me, to 
decide in conformity with your mother." 

xxxiv. 3. Respondi] " I answered in a few 
words, (for there was no one else who could 
sustain the cause of the deceased Corellia,) then 
retired, and in conformity with the opinion of my 
counsellors." 

8. cum~\ "entered an action against the other 
heirs in the cennial court, but not against me." 
For the constitution of this court see notes to 
Book III. Letter 3. 

10. Compouere] " to compromise and arrange 
the affair." 

13. ne] " lest, by the judgment of the centumvirs 
they should be found guilty of a capital crime." 
In these times it was made a crime to have en- 



114 NOTES. 

joyed the friendship of persons who had fallen 
under the displeasure of the emperor. Such 
was the case with Rusticus and his wife Gratida ; 
the former had been put to deatli by Domitian 
and the latter banished. 

14. Et] and there were some among them. 

19. her'edem ex asse] " heir to the last far- 
thing :" " sole heir." 

26. omnia] " and that I have had all these 
things in use." A title from use could be ob- 
tained in movable property in three years ; in 
unmovables in ten and twenty according as the 
party, possessing the prior right, were present or 
absent. 

xxxv. 1. utque] " and that your regard for 
me may not cause you any loss, I offer you the 
same proportion of my part." 

5. et] and unless I flatter myself, he pointed 
in this marked attention to my former conduct 
towards him. 

12. ut] " that it matters not to me." 



Letter 2. 

Describes the situation and beauty of his 
Tuscan villa, in answer to his friend who had 
endeavored to convince him that the location 
was unhealthy. 

21. Scd hi] "But this Tusci." The name 
appears to have been applied to the whole of Etru- 
ria, as well as to the town in which was Pliny's 



NOTES. 115 

villa. In both senses the word fundi, " farms, " 
seems to be understood. 

24. accipe] " hear me describe the mildness 
of the climate." 

xxxvi. 2. qumque] " and other things which 
depend on continual heat." 

7. Semper'] " The air is always moved by 
some breath ; but more frequently exhibits 
breezes than gales." 

13. et] " and such as the nature of things 
alone can produce." 

21. opimamque] and mature a rich harvest 
only more slowly, but not less successfully. 

24. quarum] " on the boundary and lower 
margin of which grew shrubs." 

xxxvu. 3. ut nono] " that it can only be 
subdued by the ninth ploughing." 

7. quia] " because the sloping ground pours 
into the Tiber whatever moisture it receives and 
does not absorb." 

11. (Estate] "in summer it subsides and in its 
dry bed loses the character of* a great river 
which in autumn it regains." 

15. formam] " a picture." 

19. Tusciilams] se fundes " to my estates at 
Tusculura, Tiber and Praeneste." 

22. nulla] no necessity for wearing the toga ; 
no client waiting at your elbow. 

xxxvm. 1. met] se famuli. 

3. venia] " may the expression be pardon." 
To boast of one's good fortune was held a bad 
omen. 



1X6 NOTES. 

Letter 3. 

In answer to his friend who had urged him to 
undertake a history, he pleads in excuse the 
number of his engagements, and takes occasion 
to describe the peculiar talents required by the 
historian, and in what respect his task differs 
from that of the orator. 

10. id] for it were rash to believe this with- 
out having tried the experiment. 

11. no7i] "not to suffer those events to perish 
to which universality is due." 

15. prasertim] especially of one who. 

17. si] " if by any means I may be able to 
raise myself also from the dust. This satisfies 
my desire, the rest is beyond my ambition to fly 
victorious through the mouths of men. Yet 
6, &c. The passages quoted are from Virgil. 

23. historia] " history in whatever manner 
written is pleasing." 

xxxix. I. et] "and are captivated by a rela- 
tion of events however naked." 

11. ne] "lest so much labor should perish 
with me, in consequence of my not adding that 
portion of study which remains. For if you have 
regard to posterity, that which is not finished 
passes for not begun." 

20. quid] " what an orator ought to perform." 

24. Narrat] "An oration relates events ; his- 
tory also relates, but differently." It is proper 
to observe in the sentences which follow that 



NOTES. 117 

hie means the latter referring to history, and 
ille the former, to oratory. 

25. Hide] To history belong many things 
low and mean, and taken from common life : to 
oratory are suited all far-fetched, noble, elevated 
subjects. 

xl. 2. tori] " brawn and mane," that is, 
" beauty and ornament." 

6. plurimum] it matters much, as Thucydides 
says, whether it be a permanent work or a single 
effort. 

10. et\ "and differing in this very circum- 
stance that both are very important." 

12. ibi] " I do in one what I ought to do in 
the other." 

12. Ideoque] Therefore, not to depart from my 
usual form of expression, I will request, mean- 
while, a delay of action. 

15. quce] "what period we shall choose in 
preference." 

16. paratd] " the investigation is open, but 
the collecting of the facts is laborious." 

23. est] " for I have sufficient courage in 
proportion to my confidence in myself." 

23. Illud] " This I ask, that you would pro- 
vide and choose materials for what you urge." 

Letter 4. 

Lamenting the death of his friend's daughter, 
and advising Marcellinus as to the best mode of 
administering consolation. 
10 



118 NOTES. 

xli. 3. qua] than which young lady I have 
never seen any thing more cheerful, more 
amiable, more worthy, not only of long life, but 
even of immortality. 

15. novissimam] her last illness. 

xlil 12. pietatis] "is wholly given up to 
paternal affection." 

14. qua] " who represented his character not 
less than his face and expression, and who had 
copied her father with wonderful likeness." 

19. Quod] "Time will do much toward 
enabling him to sustain even this." 

24. et] " and gently acquiesces in those ap- 
plied." 



BOOK VI.— Letter I. 

Account of the eruption of mount Vesuvius 
which destroyed Pompeii, and which was fatal 
to Pliny the naturalist, the uncle of Coecilius. 

xltti. 6. Quamvls] "For although he died 
in such a manner as that he will always live in 
the record of the destruction of this beautiful 
country as people and cities are immortalized by 
a remarkable event." 

13. ant] "either to do things worthy to be 
written, or to write things worthy to be read." 



NOTES. 119 

17. Erat] " He was at Misenum and was 
commanding the fleet in person." 

18. Nono] That is nono die ante Kalendas 
Septembris, "the ninth day before the Kalends 
of September, or the 23d of August." 

20. Usus] He having enjoyed the sun, and 
afterward the cold water, had taken a meal, and 
was studying. 

24, incertum] it was doubtful to those viewing 
at a distance, from what mountain. 

xlif. 5. Credo] " I suppose because elevated by 
the force of the blast, then deserted by it as it 
failed, or borne down by its own weight, it dis- 
appeared in a lateral direction." 

9. Magnum] "It seemed to him as a phi- 
losopher, remarkable and worth examining 
closely." 

11. mihi] " he gives me leave, if I wished, to 
go with him." 

14. Retina] Those on board the fleet be- 
longing to Retina. 

18. et] and what he had commenced from 
curiosity merely, he perseveres in from benevo- 
lence. Maximo with animo understood means 
with the highest motive. 

19. JJeducit] He carries down his galleys, 
and goes on board himself 

20.' erat] for the pleasantness of the shore 
caused it to be thickly settled. 

22. rectum recta] these adjectives may 

be rendered adverbially " directly." 

24. ut] "that he dictated and noted all the 



120 NOTES. 

changes, all the forms of the phenomenon, as he 
observed them with his eyes." 

26. qud] " as he approached nearer." 

xlv. 3. Jam] " There was now a sudden 
shoaling of the water, and the shore was ob- 
structed by the fall of the mountain." In other 
words, such quantities of stones and fragments 
were thrown down from the crater into the sea, 
that they filled up the harbor, and produced a 
shoal, where before was abundant water. 

7. Stabiis] " He, i. e. Pomponianus was at 
Stabise separated by the intervening bay. For 
there, the shore winding and curving inward, 
the sea is rolled in." Stabise is now called 
Castel a mar di Stabia. 

11. sarcinas] "had collected his baggage 
into vessels secure of escape, if the wind, now 
contrary, should subside, with which wind blow- 
ing exactly fair, my uncle having entered the 
port." 

21. excildbatur~\ "was augmented." 

23. in remedium] " in order to dissipate their 
alarm." 

25. meatus] "the passage of his breath." 

xlvi. L. Sed] " But the passage by which the 
eating room was approached was so rilled up." 
The Roman houses were so constructed, that 
different rooms were often separated by passages 
entirely exposed to the open air. 

7. intra]' "whether to remain within the 
house or to go abroad." 

9. et] " and as if moved from their places 



NOTES. ]21 

seemed to totter hither and thither. In the 
open air, on the contrary, was to be feared the 
fall of the pumice stones, though light and 
porous. A comparison of dangers, however, 
decided this to be the least ; and while one 
reason conquered another in him, one fear pre- 
vailed over another in his companions." 
16. decidtnlia] " the falling fragments." 
19. solvehant] " relieved." 
21. vastum] "rough and dangerous." 
xlvit. 1. crassiore] " his breath being ob- 
structed by the dense smoke, and his stomach 
closed, which was naturally weak and subject to 
nausea, and frequently foaming up." Pliny seems 
to think that the flatulency, with which his uncle 
was habitually affected, rendered him more 
liable to suffocation. 

6. habitus'] "the general aspect of the body 
was more like one asleep than dead." 
12. vere] "that 1 have truly stated." 

Letter 2. 

Sequel to the account contained in Letter 
17th. 

19. quos] "what fears and dangers I ex- 
perienced, being left at Misenum." 

21. Quanquam] " Though my soul trembles 
to remember." 

xlviii. 6. Surgebam] " I was rising, intend- 
ing to rouse her had she been asleep." 
10* 



122 NOTES. 

15. illius] " reproves her indifference and my 
insensibility to the danger." 

16. Jam] " Now was the first hour of day," 
probably 7 o'clock. 

19. quanquam] " although in an open place, 
yet from its narrowness there was great and 
imminent danger of destruction." 

21. visum] " it seemed best." 

xlix. 2. ac nt] " and though supported by 
stones would not rest in the same track." 

7. ab] "on the other side, a black and fright- 
ful cloud of fire, broken into contorted and 
quivering flashes, divided into long divergent 
flames, like lightning, but still more terrific." 

13. si periit] "if he has perished, he must 
have wished you to survive him." 

15. non] " that we should not allow ourselves, 
while uncertain about his fate, to provide for our 
own." 

18. descendere] sc. ccepit, "began to de- 
scend." 

20. quod procurrit] " the part which pro- 
jects," "the promontory." 

22. posse] " for that I being young could 
do so." 

24. Ego contra] Sc. disci, " I replied." 
26. addere] " to quicken her pace." 

I. 3. torrentis] " pouring on the ground in 
the manner of a river." 

4. dam] " while we can see our way." 

II. hi] "these lamented their own misfor- 
tunes, others those of their friends." 



NOTES. 123 

14. plures] "many said that there were no 
longer any gods, and anticipated that eternal 
and last night to the world." 

19. et] "the fire however stopped at a dis- 
tance." 

li. 4. Occursabant] " All things appeared 
changed to our still terrified eyes." 

9. et] " and many, bewildered by their ter- 
rific anticipations, imagined dangers both to 
themselves and to others." 

11. Nobis ne . . . . abeundi consilium] "We 
resolved not to depart." 

15. et] " and you will charge it to yourself, 
who requested the account" 

BOOK VII.— Letter 1. 

Conduct proper to be maintained in sickness. 

22. ne quid] " lest something should be pos- 
sible to it, or lest it should exert some influence, 
even over your character." 

lii. 3. Ipse] " I myself, when well, am ac- 
customed to deal with my friends in this man- 
ner." 

8. sciantque] "and recollect, if you allow 
me any thing improper, I shall resent it as 
much as others are wont to do what is denied 
them." 

11. tandem] "at length relieved and anoint- 
ed." Inunction of the skin was recommended 
as a remedy in many diseases. 



124 NOTES. 

12. porrexi] "I offered my hand, and de- 
sired he would feel my pulse." When fever was 
present, the use of liquids was thought to be 
injurious. 

15. mussantesque] " whispering." 

18. Atque] "And thus having calmly and 
gently given up the use of the bath, into which 
I seemed just going to enter, 1 made up my 
mind," &c. 



Letter 2. 

Suggesting to his friend a plan of study to be 
pursued in the country. 

liii. 7. prcEtered] "and by the imitation of 
the best models, the power of inventing similar 
things is acquired." 

9. simul] " at the same time, those things 
which escape you in reading, cannot escape you 
in translating." 

11. Nihil] "It will do no harm to write off 
what you have read, so far as to catch the 
subject and the course of argument, to compare 
the result with the original as read, and to 
weigh carefully what you, and what the author, 
has expressed most happily." 

21. quosqiit] "and to have surpassed those 
whom they held it sufficient to follow, since they 
did not despair." 

24. alia] " to interline some things and re- 
write others." 



NOTES. 125 

liv. 1. recalescere] "to warm anew and re- 
vive your broken and lost zeal; in fine, to add 
new members to the body already completed, yet 
not confuse the whole." 

10. locum] "a passage from history." 

16. sed] " but with that brief and pointed kind 
which so conveniently diversifies all kinds of 
occupations and cares." 

22. mollis] "if soft and yielding it follow skil- 
ful fingers, and ordered becomes a work of art." 

lv. 4. doctd] " by acquired versatility." 

7. ut his] " how by these small works the 
mind is both exerted and relaxed. For they 
include as subjects, love," &c. 

13. quod] " that having been fettered by the 
necessity of regular measure, we enjoy a freer 
language." » 

24. dum] " while I direct you how to study, 
I have taken from you the time for studying." 

25. Quin] " Why not then resume your 
note-book." 



Letter 3. 

He returns the work of Tacitus to its author 
with his remarks ; and requests a similar crit- 
icism on a production of his own. 

lvi. 11. vices] " interchange of good offices." 
lvii. 1. quod] "that I immediately occur to 
those speaking about you." 

1. Nee] "Nor are there wanting those who 



J26 NOTES. 

are preferred to either of us. But it matters not 
to me in what place we are united. For that 
will be first to me which is next to you." 

5. nisi] "unless some one happens to be 
particularly friendly to one of us." 

7. hue] " tend to this point." 



Letter 4. 

Pliny takes occasion, from the illness of a 
friend, to speak of the effect of bodily disease 
on the character, and of the duty of keeping in 
health the resolutions we form in sickness. 

16. et] "and however little he has, he holds 
it sufficient, as being about to quit it." 

Iff. Tunc] " Then he remembers that there 
are gods, and that he is a man." 

lviii. 3. ut] "that when well we should per- 
severe in being such, as we promise to be when 
sick." 

Letter 5. 

The subject is the prosecution of Belius 
Massa, at the suit of the Provinci Betica, in 
Spain, and the proceedings of the senate there- 
upon. It is addressed to the historian Tacitus, 
by whom he wishes the facts contained in it to 
be recorded. 

12. Demonstro] " I declare then, though it 
cannot escape your research since it appears in 



NOTES. 127 

the public records, I declare it however that you 
may the more believe me, that it will be agreea- 
ble to me, if you will illustrate by your genius, 
your testimony, my late act, the popularity of 
which was increased by the hazard which at- 
tended it." 

21. consules] "that the consuls would listen 
to complaints." 

lix. 1. ne] "that those may not permit the 
property to be wasted in whose custody it ought 
to be." 

3. dispice] " consider, whether you would not 
judge our duty to be closed, the action of the 
senate being terminated." 

5. cut] " you who have no attachment to the 
province except from your own benefit and that 
a recent one." 

14. impietatis] " accuses him of impiety." 
The precise crime here referred to is not agreed 
upon. It is said however that the charge of un- 
natural cruelty had been a frequent, and from 
its vagueness a very dangerous one, under many 
of the Emperors, but that it was abolished or at 
least discountenanced under Nerva and Trajan. 

17. prcBvaricationein] " will throw on me the 
suspicion of double dealing since he has not 
accused me also." Pliny was resolved that he 
would not by holding back shelter himself from 
the danger to which he saw his friend exposed. 
The term praevaricatio was employed, when a 
pleader, betraying his client, so managed the 
cause as to give the advantage to his opponent. 



128 NOTES. 

19. Divus] This term was applied to all the 
emperors. 

20. privatus] " while a private individual." 

24. simile] " an example similar to those of 
antiquity." 

25. utcunque] " however they have them- 
selves," " whatever merit they possess." 



BOOK VIII.— Letter 1. 

Describing the singular beauty of the fountain 
and river Clitumnus. 

lx. 9. Hunc] " Beneath this a spring comes 
forth, and is pressed out from several unequal 
veins ; and, having forced its way, makes a 
channel." 

15. Fons\ " Now a fountain and now a 
large river and able to bear vessels ; which 
though opposite and tending in different direc- 
tions it transmits and sustains; so powerful though 
passing over a level bed," that is, over a bed 
nearly level, " that in the direction in which it 
naturally tends it is not aided by oars ; and 
when adverse is scarcely overcome by oars and 
poles. To those floating for amusement it is 
equally agreeable according as they direct their 
course to exchange labor for rest and rest for 
labor." 



NOTES. 129 

lxi. 7. Glitumnus] A statue of the presiding 
Deity. 

8. Prasens] <( That there is a presiding 
divinity and that prophetic, the oracles given 
amply attest." 

14. Is] " The bridge forms the line of sep- 
aration between the sacred and profane part of 
the river." 

17. Hispellates] The inhabitants of Hispel- 
lum, now called Ispello. 

25. qua] " such is your politeness." This 
fountain still continues an interesting object of 
attention to travellers. 



Letter 2. 

This letter describes the extensive mischief 
which had been caused by an inundation of the 
Tiber and the Anio. 

lxii. 5. Quanquam] " Though drawn off 
by a ditch which our emperor in his wisdom 
caused to be made." 

10. atque] " and thus covers with the waters 
of other streams the fields which it does not 
itself touch." 

17. hi] " those whom, from their elevated 
situations, the storm did not reach." 

25. Nam] "for instead of inundation there 
was continual rain, and whirlpools thrown down 
from the clouds." 

lxiii. 5. Ne quid] " I fear lest something 
11 



130 NOTES. 

like this may have happened there in proportion 
to the degree of your exposure to danger." 

9. patiaris] whether you suffer evils or an- 
ticipate them. 



Letter 3. 

Describes the curiosities of lake Vadimon now 
Bassano. 

15. Ad] The same objects to examine which 
we are used to make journeys and traverse seas, 
we neglect when placed before our eyes. 

lxiv. 2. audita] " we should have heard, read, 
examined." 

5. ut] " that I should examine his Amerian 
estate." 

12. Spatium] " The extent is moderate, but 
sufficient to feel the winds and to swell with 
waves." 

15. sed] " but there are grassy islands floating 
upon it covered with reed and rushes and what- 
ever else the rich bottom, and margin of the 
lake produces," 

17. Sua] Each has its own form and size. 

lxv. 1. qua] "where they stop extend the 
shore, and thus augment and diminish the lake 
now here and now there ; and it is only when 
they have gained the middle, that they do not 
contract its dimensions." 

9. mox] "afterward landing wherever the 
wind carries them, they no more perceive that 



NOTES. 131 

they have left the island than they did their 
embarking." 

12. alteque] " and flows deeply concealed ; 
and whatever it has had thrown into it, before 
it withdrew itself it retains and brings out." 



Letter 4. 

He describes the character of those who are 
severe in judging of the faults of others, but 
indulgent to their own. 

19. Nostine] " Do you know.' 5 

lxvi. 4. teneamus] let us maintain. 

10. Sed melius] " but of this subject better 
when we meet ; though on second thoughts not 
even then. For I fear lest to reprove carp re- 
peat what I disapprove may itself be at variance 
with my precepts." 

14. quem] whom to mention belongs to ex- 
ample ; not to mention to politeness. 



Letter 5. 

Exhorting Maximius to treat with mildness 
the citizens of Achaia, and reminding him of 
the ancient power and glory of Greece. 

lxvit. 8. nihil] " abridge nothing." 
12. qua] which did not receive laws when 
conquered, but gave them to us asking. 



132 NOTES. 

20. non id] " not so as to despise it because 
it has ceased to be such." 

24. male] aliorum belongs to contumeliis. 
" Authority ill displays its power by the insults 
which it heaps on others." 

lxviti. 5. ac\ " and to' consider with yourself." 

7. nam] " for what more worthy of a state 
than good regulation?" 

10. onerat] "loads you," "imposes obliga- 
tions upon you." 

14. Quo] " Wherefore the greater effort must 
be made, lest you should fear to be more hu- 
mane, better, and more judicious, in a distant 
than in a suburban province, among slaves than 
freemen, when sent by lot than when selected 
by judgment, when new to office and unknown, 
than when tried and approved." Alluding to his 
questorship in JBithynia, which was at a greater 
distance from the city, the people of a more 
servile character, and to which as questor he had 
been sent by lot. 



BOOK IX.— Letter 1. 

Pliny advises those not capable of attaining 
great distinction to be content with mediocrity. 

lxix. 3. Alius] " Another may judge differ- 
ently, but I esteem him happiest who enjoys the 



NOTES. 133 

anticipation," &c. After alium the words homi- 
nem bcatissimum are to be supplied. 

9. et] sc. oportet, " and it behoves some to try 
to exert themselves ; others lo rest, to be relaxed, 
and not to wear out a short life in works destined 
to perish." 

13. ad] " to arrive at a mean estimation of 
themselves." 

16. ul] " since you are ever meditating." 



Letter 2. 

Recommending mildness to parents in reprov- 
ing the faults of their children. 

19. Castigabat] " Was harshly censuring." 
lxx. 4. Non\ "Does not one indulge himself 

in this, another in that?" 

8. atque] " and so use the circumstance of 

your being a father." 



Letter 3. 

The object of this letter is to reconcile Sa- 
binianus to his freedman, who had incurred his 
displeasure. 

12. Libertus] Concerning the relation of 
freed man see notes to B. XI. L. 6. 

16. Vere] " I consider him truly amended 
because he feels that he has done amiss." 

24. ne] " do not torture him:" 
11* 



134 NOTES. 

lxxi. 5. Hoc] " This I said to him, whom it 
was proper to terrify, but not the same to you." 

Letter 4. 

To acknowledge the attention which had been 
paid by Sabinianus to his last letter. 

18. ut te] " that you show yourself placable 
to the faults of your dependents, though there 
should be no one to intercede." 



Letter 5. 
Difference between true and false generosity. 

lxxii. 6. Hos] "I consider these men, with 
their baited and hooked gifts, not to put forth 
their own so much as to seize that of others." 

7. Sunt] " Those are of similar temper who 
give to one what they take from another." 

17. ut] " that they seem to be possessed 
rather than to possess." 

Letter 6. 

Account of a remarkable dolphin which made 
its appearance at Hippo on the Barbary coast. 

21. isto] sc tuo. 

22. Incidi] " I met with it however, while 
various wonderful stories are told from various 
authorities at dinner." 



NOTES. 135 

lxxiii. 4. quod] " which by turns as the tide 
checks or urges it." 

7. Omnis] " Every age is interested in the 
amusement." 

9. His] " Their glory and courage is to go 
out as far as possible." 

13. et nunc] sc coepit. 

21. si quid] whatever resembles sea, viz. the 
bays, &c. 

25. variosqne] " and weaves and unweaves 
various circles." 

lxxiv. 3. pertrectantque] "and handle him, 
offering himself to be touched." 

9. dextrd IcDvdque] " on the right and left 
side." 

17. ubi] *.' when it grew warm." 

18. Constat] " It appears that Octavius Avi- 
tus, the proconsul's lieutenant, through some 
foolish superstition, poured ointment on him as 
he lay stretched on the shore, the novelty and 
odor of which he fled from into the deep." 

lxxv. 2. Placuit] " It was thought best 
that the animal should be secretly destroyed, to 
see which such a concourse was made." 



Letter 7, 

Describes particularly the mode in which he 
passes his time in his Tuscan villa. 

10 horam primam] that is the first hour after 
sunrise, for the Romans divided the time from 



136 NOTES. 

sunrise to sunset, whether longer or shorter, into 
twelve hours. 

16. Cogito] "I think over whatever I have 
on hand, word for word, like one writing and 
correcting." 

19. et] " and admitting the daylight, I dictate 
what I had composed." 

23. xystum] 4< *the xystum was a place of re- 
sort in fine weather ; the cryptoporticum, or 
covered portico, in the rain." 

lxxvi. 2. Durat] " The activity of my 
mind continues, being repaired by change of 
place." 

22. quorum] " whose rustic complaints recom- 
mend by contrast my literary pursuits and those 
refined occupations." 



Letter 8. 

Modifications of the plan last mentioned 
adopted at his Tusculan villa in winter. 

lxxvii. 3. otium] " I passed my leisure 
time in summer." 

7. et si] " and if there occurs a necessity for 
pleading, which often happens in winter." 

14. ut] " although they lose nothing of the 
day, they still gain something from the night." 



NOTES. 137 



BOOK X.— Letter 1. 

This Letter appears to consist of two portions, 
bearing different dates. The first contains an 
account of his arrival in Bithynia. The second 
requests that an engineer may be sent to him to 
examine into the state of certain public works. 

Lxvin. 4. xv] that is, quinto decimo die ante 
Kalendas Octobres. This would be the 17th 
of September. 

11. ex] " from the examination itself." 

13. H<zc] Here begins the second portion of 
the Letter. 

2L ratione] " the account." 



Letter 2. 

The Emperor, in reply, approves of his dili- 
gence in examining the accounts, but advises 
him to find an engineer in the province itself. 

24. sine] " without injury to your person or 
that of your friends." 

• lxxix. 4. prospectum] " that it has been pro- 
vided for them by me;" "that their interest 
has been looked to by me." 

5, dabis] " you will take care." 

13. modo] " provided you will seek for them." 



138 



Letter 3. 



Relates a severe conflagration which had 
occurred at Nicomedia, and suggests the ex- 
pediency of forming a fire company, properly 
provided and equipped for service. 

23. Sipho] The precise construction of the 
ancient fire engine is not known. Probably it 
resembled, in its essential particulars, those of 
the present day. 

lxxx. 2. fabroruni\ "of engineers." 

Letter 4. 

The Emperor, in reply, discourages the 
formation of an organized company, but ad- 
vises such other precautions as the circum- 
stances render expedient. 

11. factionibus] "by organized bodies of 
that kind." 

13. hetcerice] i( political parties." 

16. ut] " that they prevent the occurrence of 
fire." 

Letter 5. 

Mentioning the unsuccessful attempts which 
had been made to build an aqueduct for the 
introduction of water into Nicomedia, and re- 
questing permission to renew the undertaking. 



NOTES. 139 

20. HS.] To be read " 30,328 sesterces." 
The letters H S, were a corruption of I I S, 
signifying two and a half. The value of the 
sestertius was in fact two and a half Roman 
pena, or three cents, six mills. CC below seems 
to have millia understood, and to mean 200,000 
sesterces. 

lxxxi. 5. arcuato] " by an arched work so 
that the water may not be confined to the level 
and low grounds of the town." The magnifi- 
cence and expense with which the aqueducts of 
the Romans were constructed, and which ren- 
ders their ruins, perhaps, the most remarkable 
monuments of antiquity, was owing to their 
ignorance of the apparently simple principle, 
that water, in whatever direction it has been 
conveyed, always tends to rise to the height of 
its original source. Had they known this they 
would never have deemed it necessary to build 
arches to support their pipes, in order to give to 
them a uniform inclination ; and those splendid 
structures, the remains of which still astonish 
the traveller, would never have existed. 

9. testaceo] " of brickwork." 



Letter 6. 

Trajan directs Pliny, before undertaking the 
work, to ascertain why so much money had 
already been expended to no purpose. 



140 NOTES. 

19. flfedius Fidius] A familiar adjuration, 
equivalent to ' me Hercule,' by Hercules. 

22. quum] " while they play into each other's 
hands," " make the work a pretext for a job." 

Letter 7. 

Describing a lake on the borders of Nico- 
media, and representing the advantages which 
will accrue from connecting it with the sea by a 
canal. 

lxxxii. 3. demon sir are] " to point out works 
not less worthy of your reputation than of your 
present glory, and likely to have as much useful- 
ness as beauty." 

10. devehuntur] The sentence in which the 
plan of the canal should be proposed, seems 
to be wanting here. That which follows con- 
tains an objection which he thinks may present 
itself, and which he immediately answers. 

23. hoc] this too may have happened, the 
king being carried off by death, or the suc- 
cess of the work being despaired of. 

25. feres] " you will indulge me in my high 
hopes." 

Letter 8. 

The Emperor advises to have the level of the 
lake taken, since, if higher than the sea, the 
water will discharge itself through the canal. 



NOTES. 141 



Letter 9. 

Asking counsel respecting the disposal of the 
public funds. 

16. nee inveniuntur\ " nor can those be found 
who are willing to be creditors especially to 
the state at 12 per cent, at which rate they 
are borrowing from individuals." The reason 
he immediately explains to be, that those who 
borrowed public money were obliged to give 
ample security, which in private transactions 
was not so strictly enforced. 

21. inter] "among the captains of com- 
panies." It would seem from this passage 
that those persons were to be made responsible 
for the payment of the rate of interest, at what- 
ever point it was fixed ; which, it seems, from 
the next sentence, they were not very readily 
disposed to do. 



Letter 10. 

The Emperor advises to reduce the rate of 
interest, and disapproves of lending by com- 
pulsion. 

lxxxiv. 7. Modum] " You must graduate the 

rate according to the supply of borrowers." In 

modern times, the expedient would be to affix 

a regular rate of interest to the stock, but to 

12 



142 NOTES. 

allow the price of the shares themselves to be 
determined by the state of the market, which 
seems more convenient. 



Letter 11. 

In answer to 10, and proposing means for 
averting the danger therein named. 

17. sed] " but by leaving a margin, as it 
were, can be continuous with it, yet separated 
from it." 

lxxxv. 6. quod] " which, being cut off in 
that direction, and directed as we wish, will 
supply to the lake the whole quantity of water 
which it now takes from it." This and the 
two following expedients scarce do much credit 
to Pliny's skill in engineering. 

9. Enimvero] "In fact, if we should con- 
clude to carry the canal further, and depress it 
to the bed of the sea, and admit it, not into the 
river but into the sea itself, the tide will retain 
and restore whatever comes from the lake." 
This was certainly a great mistake. 

14. cataractis] " by locks." 



Letter 12. 

The emperor, in answer, leaves the choice of 
means to his own discretion. 



143 



Letter 13. 



Pliny proposes to bring water into Sinope 
; (now Sinbred) by a cut of sixteen miles. 

lxxxvi. 10. statim] "just at the head, about 
a mile distant." 

14. Pecunia] " The money shall be abun- 
dantly furnished by my care." 



Letter 14. 

The emperor gives his consent to the enter- 
prise, provided the means of the province are 
sufficient to meet the expense. 

lxxxvii. 2. viribus] " by its own resources." 




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